defiling

Variant of defile

defile definition

de·file (dē fīl′, di-)

transitive verb defiled -·filed′, defiling -·fil′·ing

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

Etymology: 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:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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