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   defy

   /dɪˈfʌɪ/

   verb

   • 1. openly resist or refuse to obey: "a woman who defies convention" Similar resistwithstandtake a stand againsthold out againststand up toconfrontfacemeet head-ontake onsquare up tobeardbraveoutfaceOpposite surrender
   • ▪ be of such a kind or nature that (a specified attitude or action) is almost impossible: "his actions defy belief" Similar eludeescapedefeatfoilfrustratethwartbaffle
   • 2. appear to be challenging (someone) to do or prove something: "he glowered at her, defying her to mock him" Similar challengedarethrow down the gauntlet
   • ▪ challenge (someone) to fight: archaic "go now, defy him to the combat"

   Word Origin Middle English (in the senses ‘renounce an allegiance’ and ‘challenge to combat’): from Old French desfier, based on Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + fidus ‘faithful’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. defier noun

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • Y

     4

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