de|fil´ing|ly

de|fil´ing|ly
de|file1 «dih FYL», transitive verb, -filed, -fil|ing.
1. to make dirty, bad-smelling, or in any way disgusting: »

The children's muddy shoes defiled all the rugs in the house.

SYNONYM(S): pollute, contaminate, befoul.
2. to destroy the pureness or cleanness of (anything sacred); desecrate; corrupt: »

The barbarians defiled the church by using it as a stable.

SYNONYM(S): debase, profane.
3. to make ceremonially unclean: »

The heathen are come into thin inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled (Psalms 79:1).

4. to stain; dishonor; sully: »

The pretty girl's reputation was defiled by malicious gossips.

5. Archaic. to ravish.
╂[alteration of Middle English defoulen (< Old French defouler trample down, violate); influenced by Middle English filen befoul, Old English f < fūl foul]
–de|fil´ing|ly, adverb.
de|file2 «dih FYL, DEE fyl», verb, -filed, -fil|ing, noun.
–v.i.
to march in single file or a narrow column: »

The troops defiled through the pass.

–n.
a narrow place through which troops can march only in narrow columns; a steep and narrow valley: »

a narrow pass or defile, between…closely hanging hills (John Motley).

╂[< French défilé, noun use of past participle of défiler march by files < dé- off + file file]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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