from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Defiance \De*fi"ance\, n. [OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge,
fr. desfier to challenge, F. d['e]fier. See {Defy}.]
1. The act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to
combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat.
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A war without a just defiance made. --Dryden.
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Stood for her cause, and flung defiance down.
--Tennyson.
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2. A state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition
to resist; contempt of opposition.
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He breathed defiance to my ears. --Shak.
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3. A casting aside; renunciation; rejection. [Obs.] "Defiance
to thy kindness." --Ford.
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{To bid defiance}, {To set at defiance}, to defy; to
disregard recklessly or contemptuously. --Locke.
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