-defying - The Dictionary

de·fy (d?-f??)tr.v. de·fied, de·fy·ing, de·fies 1. a. To oppose or resist with boldness and assurance: defied the blockade by sailing straight through it.b. To refuse to submit to or cooperate with: defied the court order by leaving the country.2. To be beyond the application or scope of; be contrary or resistant to: an act that defies explanation; a problem that defies any conventional approach.3. To challenge or dare (someone) to do something: She defied her accusers to prove their charges.[Middle English defien, from Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disf?d?re : Latin dis-, dis- + Latin f?dus, faithful; see bheidh- in Indo-European roots.]Synonyms: defy, brave, dare, face These verbs mean to confront boldly and courageously: a writer who defied the wrath of the authorities; a composer braving all criticism; explorers who dared the unknown; sailors who faced the dangers of the storm squarely.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.defy (d??fa?) vb (tr) , -fies, -fying or -fied1. to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly2. to elude, esp in a baffling way: his actions defy explanation. 3. formal to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare: I defy you to climb that cliff. 4. (Military) archaic to invite to do battle or combat[C14: from Old French desfier, from des- de- + fier to trust, from Latin f?dere] de?fier nCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014de?fy (v. d??fa?; n. also ?di fa?) v. -fied, -fy?ing, v.t. 1. to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly. 2. to offer effective resistance to: This fort defies attack. 3. to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible. [1250?1300; Middle English