transitive verb defied -·fied′, defying -·fy′·ing

1. to resist or oppose boldly or openly
2. to resist completely in a baffling way the puzzle defied solution
3. to dare (someone) to do or prove something
4. Archaic to challenge (someone) to fight

Etymology: ME defien < OFr defier, to distrust, repudiate, defy < LL *disfidare < dis-, from + *fidare, to trust < fidus, faithful: see faith

noun pl. defies -·fies