defiling
present participle of defile
• Feilding, Fielding, fielding
Source: Wiktionary
De*file", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Defiling.] Etym: [F. défiler; pref. dé-, for des- (L. dis-) + file a row or line. See File a row.]
Definition: To march off in a line, file by file; to file off.
De*file", v. t. (Mil.)
Definition: Same as Defilade.
De*file", n. Etym: [Cf. F. défilé, fr. défiler to defile.]
1. Any narrow passage or gorge in which troops can march only in a file, or with a narrow front; a long, narrow pass between hills, rocks, etc.
2. (Mil.)
Definition: The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior. See Defilade.
De*file", v. t. Etym: [OE. defoulen, -foilen, to tread down, OF. defouler; de- + fouler to trample (see Full, v. t.), and OE. defoulen to foul (influenced in form by the older verb defoilen). See File to defile, Foul, Defoul.]
1. To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul; to pollute. They that touch pitch will be defiled. Shak.
2. To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint. He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age, however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty hands. Swift.
3. To injure in purity of character; to corrupt. Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt. Ezek. xx. 7.
4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate. The husband murder'd and the wife defiled. Prior.
5. To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute. That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile therewith. Lev. xxii. 8.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
5 February 2025
(noun) activity involved in maintaining something in good working order; “he wrote the manual on car care”
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
