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.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • pro|fil|ing — «PROH fyl ihng», noun. 1. a) the creation of a profile; the description of a likely individual based on analysis of selected characteristics or background facts: »an early practitioner of criminal profiling, the art and science of looking at the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • DNA pro|fil|ing — «proh FYL ihng», = DNA fingerprinting. (Cf. ↑DNA fingerprinting) …   Useful english dictionary

  • fil — aero·fil·ter; af·fil·i·a·tion; al·fil·a·ria; al·fil·e·ri·llo; de·fil·er; de·fil·ing·ly; fil·a·ment; fil·a·men·ta·ry; fil·a·ment·ed; fil·a·men·tous; fil·a·ree; fil·a·ri·a·sis; fil·a·ri·idae; fil·a·ture; fil·beard; fil·bert; fil·ial; fil·ial·i·ty;… …   English syllables

  • fil|let|ing — «FIHL uh tihng», noun. 1. the material of which fillets are made. 2. fillets collectively. 3. mortar or plaster used in a building to fill up a close joint where one surface meets another …   Useful english dictionary

  • fil|ter-pass|ing — «FIHL tuhr PAS ihng», adjective. passing through a filter, as a microorganism or virus …   Useful english dictionary

  • fil|a´tion — fil|trate «FIHL trayt», noun, verb, trat|ed, trat|ing. –n. the liquid that has been passed through a filter. ╂[< verb] –v.t., v.i. to pass through a filter. ╂[< Medieval Latin filtrum filter + English ate1] …   Useful english dictionary

  • fil|trate — «FIHL trayt», noun, verb, trat|ed, trat|ing. –n. the liquid that has been passed through a filter. ╂[< verb] –v.t., v.i. to pass through a filter. ╂[< Medieval Latin filtrum filter + English ate1] …   Useful english dictionary

  • fil|a|gree — «FIHL uh gree», noun, transitive verb, greed, gree|ing, adjective. = filigree. (Cf. ↑filigree) …   Useful english dictionary

  • fil|i|gree — «FIHL uh gree», noun, verb, greed, gree|ing, adjective. –n. 1. very delicate, lacelike ornamental work of gold or silver wire. 2. any similar ornamental work. 3. a) a lacy, delicate, or fanciful pattern in any material: »The frost made a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • fil|li|gree — «FIHL uh gree», noun, transitive verb, greed, gree|ing, adjective. = filigree. (Cf. ↑filigree) …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”