defile

1
[ dih-fahyl ]
/ dɪˈfaɪl /

verb (used with object), de·filed, de·fil·ing.

to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase.
to violate the chastity of.
to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate.
to sully, as a person's reputation.

Origin of defile

1
1275–1325; Middle English defilen, defelen, alteration of defoilen (by association with filen to file3) < Anglo-French, Old French defouler to trample on, violate; compare Old English befȳlan to befoul

OTHER WORDS FROM defile

Definition for defiled (2 of 2)

defile 2
[ dih-fahyl, dee-fahyl ]
/ dɪˈfaɪl, ˈdi faɪl /

noun

any narrow passage, especially between mountains.

verb (used without object), de·filed, de·fil·ing.

to march in a line or by files.

Origin of defile

2
1675–85; < French défilé, noun use of past participle of défiler to file off; see defilade

Example sentences from the Web for defiled

British Dictionary definitions for defiled (1 of 2)

defile 1
/ (dɪˈfaɪl) /

verb (tr)

to make foul or dirty; pollute
to tarnish or sully the brightness of; taint; corrupt
to damage or sully (someone's good name, reputation, etc)
to make unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate
to violate the chastity of

Derived forms of defile

defilement, noun defiler, noun

Word Origin for defile

C14: from earlier defoilen (influenced by filen to file ³), from Old French defouler to trample underfoot, abuse, from de- + fouler to tread upon; see full ²

British Dictionary definitions for defiled (2 of 2)

defile 2
/ (ˈdiːfaɪl, dɪˈfaɪl) /

noun

a narrow pass or gorge, esp one between two mountains
a single file of soldiers, etc

verb

mainly military to march or cause to march in single file

Word Origin for defile

C17: from French défilé, from défiler to file off, from filer to march in a column, from Old French: to spin, from fil thread, from Latin fīlum