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Antonyms for defile

Grammar : Verb
Spell : dih-fahyl
Phonetic Transcription : dɪˈfaɪl

Definition of defile

Origin :
  • c.1400, "to desecrate, profane;" mid-15c., "to make foul or dirty," alteration of earlier defoulen, from Old French defouler "trample down, violate," also "ill-treat, dishonor," from de- "down" (see de-) + foler "to tread," from Latin fullo "person who cleans and thickens cloth by stamping on it" (see foil (v.)).
  • The alteration (or re-formation) in English is from influence of Middle English filen (v.) "to render foul; make unclean or impure," literal and figurative, from Old English fylen (trans.), related to Old English fulian (intrans.) "to become foul, rot," from the source of foul (adj.). Cf. befoul, which also had a parallel form befilen. Related: Defiled; defiling.
  • verb corrupt, violate
Example sentences :
  • They thought of the Earth as their mother and would not put anything into it to defile it.
  • Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin
  • The Amandara defile was occupied on both sides by the enemy.
  • Extract from : « The Story of the Malakand Field Force » by Sir Winston S. Churchill
  • An Ohio regiment, which can also deal with Slade if it catches him, will defile to the left.
  • Extract from : « The Rock of Chickamauga » by Joseph A. Altsheler
  • From north to south there is just one highway, so narrow that it is really a defile.
  • Extract from : « The Story of the Great War, Volume II (of VIII) » by Various
  • At last it throws its coldling, shining ray on a defile and rests there.
  • Extract from : « The Story of the Great War, Volume II (of VIII) » by Various
  • I felt that to seek her presence would be almost to defile her.
  • Extract from : « The Strolling Saint » by Raphael Sabatini
  • In the course of this the Acarnanians attacked him in a defile.
  • Extract from : « Agesilaus » by Xenophon
  • He dashed into the shelter of the defile, a grim smile playing on his lips.
  • Extract from : « The Coyote » by James Roberts
  • All was in darkness towards that part of the city near the defile.
  • Extract from : « Arthur O'Leary » by Charles James Lever
  • The troops will defile by the Namur gate, and meet me there in an hour.
  • Extract from : « Charles O'Malley, The Irish Dragoon, Volume 2 (of 2) » by Charles Lever

Synonyms for defile

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019