defy — de*fy (d[ e]*f[imac] ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Defied} (d[ e]*f[imac]d ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Defying}.] [F. d[ e]fier, OF. deffier, desfier, LL. disfidare to disown faith or fidelity, to dissolve the bond of allegiance, as between the vassal and his… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
defy — c.1300, to renounce one s allegiance; mid 14c., to challenge, defy, from O.Fr. defier, desfier to challenge, defy, provoke; renounce (a belief), repudiate (a vow, etc.), from V.L. *disfidare renounce one s faith, from L. dis away (see DIS (Cf.… … Etymology dictionary
Defy-ID — is a network of groups and people in the United Kingdom opposed to the introduction of the proposed National Identity Register and national identity card scheme.ee also*NO2ID *Pressure groups in the United KingdomExternal links*http://www.defy id … Wikipedia
defy — [dē fī′, difī′; ] also, for n. [, dē′fī] vt. defied, defying [ME defien < OFr defier, to distrust, repudiate, defy < LL * disfidare < dis , from + * fidare, to trust < fidus, faithful: see FAITH] 1. to resist or oppose boldly or… … English World dictionary
defy — de*fy (d[ e]*f[imac] ), n. A challenge. [Obs.] Dryden. [1913 Webster] || … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
defy — *face, brave, challenge, dare, beard Analogous words: mock, deride, *ridicule: flout (see SCOFF): withstand, *resist, oppose, fight: confront, encounter, *meet Antonyms: recoil from … New Dictionary of Synonyms
defy — [v] challenge, frustrate baffle, beard, brave, confront, contemn, dare, defeat, deride, despise, disregard, elude, face, flout, fly in face of*, foil, front, gibe*, hang tough*, hurl defiance at, ignore, insult, make my day*, mock, oppose,… … New thesaurus
defy — ► VERB (defies, defied) 1) openly resist or refuse to obey. 2) challenge to do or prove something. DERIVATIVES defier noun. ORIGIN Old French desfier, from Latin fidus faithful … English terms dictionary
defy — de|fy [dıˈfaı] v past tense and past participle defied present participle defying third person singular defies [T] [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: defier, from Latin fidere to trust ] 1.) to refuse to obey a law or rule, or refuse to do… … Dictionary of contemporary English
defy — [[t]dɪfa͟ɪ[/t]] defies, defying, defied 1) VERB If you defy someone or something that is trying to make you behave in a particular way, you refuse to obey them and behave in that way. [V n] This was the first (and last) time that I dared to defy… … English dictionary
