B2verb · transitive · rare

defy

defy · defies · defied · defying

тримати, держати, затримувати

бросать вызов

herausfordern, widersetzen, die Stirn bieten, entgegentreten

To challenge or braveTo challenge (someone) or brave (a hazard or opposition).

ⓘ

/dɪˈfaɪ/

» I defy you to make it public.

Meaning

4 senses

(transitive)To challenge (someone) or brave (a hazard or opposition).
to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion
herausfordern, die Stirn bieten, entgegentreten
броса́ть вы́зовbrosátʹ výzov
challenge
(transitive)To refuse to obey.
If you defy your teacher you may end up in detention.
trotzen, widersetzen, querstellen
To not conform to or follow a pattern, set of rules or expectations.
widersetzen
(obsolete, transitive)To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce.
1603-1625, Beaumont and Fletcher For thee I have defied my constant mistress.
lossagen, abschwören
пренебрега́тьprenebregátʹ, попира́тьpopirátʹ

Examples

59 sentences

I defy you to make it public.
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
They defied the laws of the king.
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
You're foolish to think you can defy me.
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · CM · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
How dare you defy me!
deWie kannst du es wagen, mir zu trotzen! — Waldelfe
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
That defies any description.
Це знецінює всі описи. — pinaxe
deDas spottet jeder Beschreibung. — Zaghawa
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · carlosalberto · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem

Translations

7 languages

Русский

By meaning 2

to provoke to combat or strife:

to renounce or dissolve all bonds:

Deutsch

By meaning 3

to challenge (someone):

to refuse to obey:

to renounce or dissolve all bonds:

Origin

From Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin

From Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”). Meaning shifted in the 14th century from "be disloyal" to "challenge". Contrast confide, fidelity, faith.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source