Question

defile

Accepted Answer

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionaryde·file I \di-ˈfī(-ə)l, dē-\ transitive verb (de·filed ; de·fil·ing) ETYMOLOGY Middle English, alteration (influenced by filen to defile, from Old English fȳlan) of defoilen to trample, defile, from Anglo-French defoiller, defuler, to trample, from de- + fuller, follerto trample, literally, to full — more at full DATE 14th century: to make unclean or impure: as a. to corrupt the purity or perfection of : debase the countryside defiled by billboards b. to violate the chastity of : deflower c. to make physically unclean especially with something unpleasant or contaminating boots defiled with blood d. to violate the sanctity of : desecrate defile a sanctuary e. sully, dishonorSynonyms: see contaminate• de·file·ment \-ˈfī(-ə)l-mənt\ noun• de·fil·er \-ˈfī-lər\ noun II \di-ˈfī(-ə)l, ˈdē-ˌfī(-ə)l\ noun ETYMOLOGY French défilé, from past participle of défiler DATE 1685: a narrow passage or gorge III \di-ˈfī(-ə)l, ˈdē-ˌfī(-ə)l\ intransitive verb (de·filed ; de·fil·ing) ETYMOLOGY French défiler, from dé- de- + filer to move in a column — more at file DATE 1705: to march off in a lineEnglish Etymologydefile 1. defile (v.) "make filthy," c.1280, from O.Frhttp://O.Fr. defouler "trample down, violate," from de- "down" + fouler "to tread," from L. fullo"person who cleans and thickens cloth by stamping on it." Sense infl. by foul (q.v.); spelling infl. by obsolete native befile, which it replaced and which meant about the same thing. 2. defile (n.) "narrow passage," 1640s, especially in a military sense, "a narrow passage down which troops can march only in single file," from Fr. défilé, n. use of pp. of défiler "march by files."Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7defilede·file¹ / di5fail / verb[VN] (formal or literary) to make sth dirty or no longer pure, especially sth that people consider important or holy 弄脏；玷污；糟蹋；亵渎: Many victims of burglary feel their homes have been defiled. 许多家门被撬的人都感到自己的家被玷污了。 The altar had been defiled by vandals. 圣坛受到破坏公物者的肆意践踏。 • de·file·ment noun de·file² / di5fail; 5di:fail / noun (formal)a narrow way through mountains 山中狭径Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridgedde·fileI. \də̇ˈfīl, dēˈ-, esp before pause or consonant -īəl\ transitive verb(-ed/-ing/-s)Etymology: Middle English defilen, alteration (influenced by Middle English filen to defile) of defoulen to trample on, violate sexually, defile, from Old French defoler, defouler to trample on, mistreat, from de- + foler, fouler to trample on, literally, to full (as cloth) — more at full (to thicken), file (to defile)1. : to make filthy : dirty, befoul < they that touch pitch will be defiled — Shakespeare >2. : to corrupt the purity or perfection of : debase < not even a tent defiling the primeval splendor — R.L.Neuberger >3. : to rob of chastity : ravish, violate4. : to make ceremonially unclean : pollute < defile the temple >5. : tarnish, dishonor < defiled his memory with slander >Synonyms: see contaminateII. \“, ˈdēˌf-\ intransitive verb(-ed/-ing/-s)Etymology: French défiler, from dé- de- (from Old French de-, des-) + filer to move in a column or columns (as of troops), from Old French, to spin, from Late Latin filare, from Latin filum thread — more at file (row): to march off or pass along in a line : file offIII. \like defile II\ noun(-s)Etymology: French défilé, from past participle of défiler1. : a narrow passage in which troops can march only in a file or with a narrow front2. : a long narrow pass (as between hills, rocks, or cliffs)

To Of From Noun Narrow Defile Verb Make