defiance
/dɪˈfaɪ(j)əns/ noun, proper noun
Forms defiances
- noun The feeling, or spirit of being defiant.
- noun Open or bold resistance to or disregard for authority, opposition, or power; refusing to give up.
- noun A challenging attitude or behaviour; challenge.
- proper noun A small city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States.
- proper noun An unincorporated community in Perry County, Kentucky, United States.
- proper noun An unincorporated community in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States.
- proper noun A former community in Worth County, Missouri.
- proper noun A city, the county seat of Defiance County, Ohio, United States. Named after Fort Defiance.
- proper noun An unincorporated community and census-designated place in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English defiaunce, from Old French desfiance, from desfier. By surface analysis, defy + -ance.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat.
- noun A state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition to resist; contempt of opposition.
Etymology [OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. desfier to challenge, F. défier. See Defy.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “defiance”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details