defying

Variant of defy

defy definition

defy (dē fī′, di-; also, for n., dē′fī)

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

a defiance or challenge

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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