See Also: defy(1)(dictionary)
defy(2)(dictionary)
defy(dictionary)

defy(2) (iou)



defy verb. ME.
[Old & mod. French defier (earlier des-, def-) from Proto-Romance, from Latin dis- (see DE-) + fidus faithful, rel. to fides FAITH.]
verb trans. Renounce faith or allegiance to; declare hostilities or war against. obsolete exc. Hist. ME.
verb trans. Challenge to or to combat or battle. arch. ME.
Milton Th' infernal Serpent..Who durst defie th' Omnipotent to Arms.
verb trans. Reject, renounce, disdain, revolt at. ME-E18.
J. Gay The mastiff..Whose honest jaws the bribe defy'd.
verb intrans. Show lack of faith; have distrust of. LME-E17.
verb trans. Challenge the power of; resist openly, refuse to obey. LME.
Isaiah Berlin Mill likes dissent,..those who defy the establishment. M. Edwardes The fear that employees would..defy union instructions.
b. Of a thing: resist completely, present insuperable obstacles to. E18.
C. Patmore Beauty which defies analysis. E. Waugh A..warmth which defied the gathering blizzard.
verb trans. Challenge to do something which the challenger believes cannot be done. L17.
C. Darwin I defy any one at first sight to be sure that it is not a fish leaping for sport. P. P. Read A hard look, as if defying him to say that he disapproved of her scheme.