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defile

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To defile is defined as to make something unclean, either literally or figuratively.

(verb)

When you scribble over a beautiful painting, this is an example of a situation where you defile the painting.

See defile in Webster's New World College Dictionary

to make filthy or dirty; pollute
to make ceremonially unclean
to corrupt
to profane or sully (as a person's name)
Archaic to violate the chastity of; deflower

Origin: ME defilen, altered (by assoc. with filen, to make foul < OE fylan < ful, foul) < defoulen < OFr defouler, to tread underfoot, insult < de-, intens. + fouler < ML fullare, to tread, full

Related Forms:

defilement noun
defiler noun

intransitive verb defiled, defiling

to march in single file or by files

Origin: Fr défiler, to file off, unravel < dé- (L de), from + filer, to form a line < fil, thread: see file

noun

a narrow passage through which troops must defile
any narrow valley or mountain pass
a march in single file or by files

Origin: Fr défilé < the v.

See defile in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb de·filed, de·fil·ing, de·files

To make filthy or dirty; pollute: defile a river with sewage.
To debase the pureness or excellence of; corrupt: a country landscape that was defiled by urban sprawl.
To profane or sully (a reputation, for example).
To make unclean or unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate: defile a temple.
To violate the chastity of.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English defilen

Origin: , alteration (influenced by filen, to befoul, from Old English fȳlan; see pū̆- in Indo-European roots)

Origin: of defoulen, to trample on, abuse, pollute

Origin: , from Old French defouler, to trample, full cloth

Origin: : de-, de-

Origin: + fouler, to trample, beat down; see full²

Related Forms: