Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Defiance
De-fi′ance
,Noun.
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.