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De·file

/dəˈfīl/

verb
- 1. sully, mar, or spoil: "the land was defiled by a previous owner" Similar spoilsullymarimpairdebasedegradepollutepoisoncorrupttainttarnishinfectfoulbefouldirtysoilstaindestroyruinOpposite purify
- ▪ desecrate or profane (something sacred): "the tomb had been defiled and looted" Similar desecrateprofaneviolatetreat sacrilegiouslymake impurecontaminatepollutedebasedegradedishonorvitiateOpposite sanctify
- ▪ violate the chastity of (a woman): "he took her behind the building and defiled her"
Word Origin late Middle English: alteration of obsolete defoul, from Old French defouler ‘trample down’, influenced by obsolete befile ‘befoul, defile’.
Derivatives
- 1. defiler noun
Scrabble Points: 10
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What does the word 'defile' mean?
Get a quick, free translation! DEFILE meaning: 1. to spoil something or someone so that that thing or person is less beautiful or pure: 2. a very…. Learn more.

DEFILE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

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What does defilen mean?
From Middle English defilen (“to make dirty”), alteration (due to Middle English defoulen, defoilen (“to trample, abuse”)) of Middle English befilen (“to defile, make foul”), from Old English befȳlan (“to befoul, defile”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- + *fūlijaną (“to defile, make filthy”). Cognate with Dutch bevuilen (“to defile, soil”).

Defile Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

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What does it mean if something is defiled?
When you defile something, you make it dirty or make it lose its purity. Think of a snowy field in which someone has tossed their old cans and wrappers. The litter defiles the winter wonderland. For something to be defiled, it first must be pure. You can't defile a garbage dump or a messy room. Defile is often used in a religious context.

Defile - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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What does defilement mean in English?
These meanings echo the word’s Middle English and Anglo-French ancestry, where defilement is connected to figurative and literal trampling. The ultimate Anglo-French root is fuller, or foller, which means “to trample under foot,” “to oppress”—or literally, “to full.”

Defile Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › defileDefile Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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Learn the different meanings and uses of the word defile, as a verb and a noun, with synonyms, examples, and etymology. Defile can mean to make unclean, impure, or violated, or a narrow passage between hills or rocks.
www.dictionary.com › browse › defileDEFILE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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Defile definition: to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase. . See examples of DEFILE used in a sentence.
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dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishDEFILE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english
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Defile can mean to spoil something or someone's purity or beauty, or to make something dirty or untidy. It can also mean a very narrow valley between two mountains. See examples, synonyms and translations.
dictionary.cambridge.org › english › defileDEFILE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

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Defile can be a verb meaning to spoil or pollute something or someone, or a noun meaning a narrow valley between mountains. Learn how to use it in sentences and see translations in different languages.
www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › defileDefile - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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When you defile something, you make it dirty or make it lose its purity. Think of a snowy field in which someone has tossed their old cans and wrappers. The litter defiles the winter wonderland.
www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishDEFILE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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4 days ago · Defile can mean to make something impure, unclean, or corrupt, or to violate someone's chastity. It can also mean a narrow valley or a single file of soldiers. Learn more about its usage, origin, and related words.
www.yourdictionary.com › defileDefile Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

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Defile can mean to make filthy or dirty, to march in single file, or to corrupt or profane something. It can also be a noun for a narrow passage or a valley.