Defy
/dɪˈfaɪ/noun
To resist, challenge, or refuse to obey.
Did you know?The word comes through Old French from Latin roots tied to sworn loyalty, so to defy someone was originally to reject a bond of fealty, not just argue back.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Lat
fidēlis
“faithful, loyal”
Late Latin
Lat
diffidāre
“to distrust, lose confidence in, renounce trust”
Old French
OFr
defier
“to challenge, renounce allegiance to”
Middle English
Eng
defien
“to challenge, oppose, renounce”
Modern English
Eng
defy
“to resist or challenge openly”