defying
Variant of defy
defy
definition
defy (dē fī′, di-; also, for n., dē′fī)
transitive verb defied -·fied′, defying -·fy′·ing
- to resist or oppose boldly or openly
- to resist completely in a baffling way the puzzle defied solution
- to dare (someone) to do or prove something
- 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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