Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [verb dih-fahy; noun dih-fahy, dee-fahy]
- /verb dɪˈfaɪ; noun dɪˈfaɪ, ˈdi faɪ/
- /dɪˈfaɪ/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [verb dih-fahy; noun dih-fahy, dee-fahy]
- /verb dɪˈfaɪ; noun dɪˈfaɪ, ˈdi faɪ/
Definitions of defies word
- verb with object defies to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly: to defy parental authority. 1
- verb with object defies to offer effective resistance to: a fort that defies attack. 1
- verb with object defies to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge. 1
- verb with object defies Archaic. to challenge to a combat or contest. 1
- noun plural defies a challenge; a defiance. 1
- noun defies Plural form of defy. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of defies
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; Middle English defien < Old French desfier, equivalent to des- dis-1 + fier to trust < Vulgar Latin *fīdāre, variant of Latin fīdere
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Defies
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
defies popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 88% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
defies usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerTop questions with defies
- what does defies mean?
- someone who defies authority is?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with d
- Words starting with de
- Words starting with def
- Words starting with defi
- Words starting with defie
- Words starting with defies