[de.fy] vt de.fied ; de.fy.ing [ME, to renounce faith in, challenge, fr. MF defier, fr. de- + fier to entrust, fr. (assumed) VL fidare, alter. of L fidere to trust--more at bide] (14c) 1 archaic: to challenge to combat
2: to challenge to do something considered impossible: dare
3: to confront with assured power of resistance: disregard "~ public opinion"
4: to resist attempts at: withstand "the paintings ~ classification"
[2]de.fy n, pl defies (1580): challenge, defiance