| defiance | 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." (Shak) 3. A casting aside; renunciation; rejection. "Defiance to thy kindness." To bid defiance, To set at defiance, to defy; to disregard recklessly or contemptuously. Origin: OF. Defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. Desfier to challenge, F. Defier. See Defy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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