■ verb ( defies , ~ing , defied )
1》 openly resist or refuse to obey.
2》 challenge to do or prove something: he glowered at her, ~ing 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.
Derivatives
defier noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. desfier , based on L. dis- (expressing reversal) + fidus 'faithful'.