v.
(defies, defying, defied)
- openly resist or refuse to obey.
- challenge to do or prove something:
he glowered at her, defying her to mock him.
▸be of such a kind or nature that (a specified action or attitude) is almost impossible:
the effrontery of the man defied belief.
▸archaic challenge to combat.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. desfier, based on L. dis- (expressing reversal) + fidus ‘faithful’.