Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Defiance

De-fi′ance

,
Noun.
[OF.
defiance
,
desfiance
, challenge, fr.
desfier
to challenge, F.
défier
. See
Defy
.]
1.
The act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat.
A war without a just
defiance
made.
Dryden.
Stood for her cause, and flung
defiance
down.
Tennyson.
2.
A state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition to resist; contempt of opposition.
He breathed
defiance
to my ears.
Shakespeare
3.
A casting aside; renunciation; rejection.
[Obs.]
Defiance to thy kindness.”
Ford.
To bid defiance
,
To set at defiance
,
to defy; to disregard recklessly or contemptuously.
Locke.

Webster 1828 Edition


Defiance

DEFIANCE

, n.
1.
A daring; a challenge to fight; invitation to combat; a call to an adversary to encounter, if he dare. Goliath bid defiance to the army of Israel.
2.
A challenge to meet in any contest; a call upon one to make good any assertion or charge; an invitation to maintain any cause or point.
3.
Contempt of opposition or danger; a daring or resistance that implies the contempt of an adversary, or of any opposing power. Men often transgress the law and act in defiance of authority.

Definition 2024


defiance

defiance

See also: défiance

English

Noun

defiance (countable and uncountable, plural defiances)

  1. The feeling, or spirit of being defiant.
    • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 6, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:
      But Sophia's mother was not the woman to brook defiance. After a few moments' vain remonstrance her husband complied. His manner and appearance were suggestive of a satiated sea-lion.
  2. Open or bold resistance to or disregard for authority, opposition, or power.
  3. A challenging attitude or behaviour; challenge.

Translations