In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
DEFIED
DEFY
defy, dare
(verb) challenge; “I dare you!”
defy, withstand, hold, hold up
(verb) resist or confront with resistance; “The politician defied public opinion”; “The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear”; “The bridge held”
defy, resist, refuse
(verb) elude, especially in a baffling way; “This behavior defies explanation”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Verb
defied
simple past tense and past participle of defy
Source: Wiktionary
DEFY
De*fy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defied; p. pr. & vb. n. Defying.] Etym: [F. défier, OF. deffier, desfier, LL. disfidare to disown faith or fidelity, to dissolve the bond of allegiance, as between the vassal and his lord; hence, to challenge, defy; fr. L. dis- + fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Diffident, Affiance.]
1. To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce. [Obs.] I defy the surety and the bond. Chaucer. For thee I have defied my constant mistress. Beau. & Fl.
2. To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion. I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight. Milton. I defy the enemies of our constitution to show the contrary. Burke.
De*fy", n.
Definition: A challenge. [Obs.] Dryden.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
5 May 2025
UNEXPLOITED
(adjective) not developed, improved, exploited or used; “vast unexploited (or undeveloped) natural resources”; “taxes on undeveloped lots are low”
Coffee Trivia
