Defilement

de·file ¹  (d-fl)

tr.v. de·filed, de·fil·ing, de·files

1. To make filthy or dirty; pollute: defile a river with sewage.

2. To debase the pureness or excellence of; corrupt: a country landscape that was defiled by urban sprawl.

3. To profane or sully (a reputation, for example).

4. To make unclean or unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate: defile a temple.

5. To violate the chastity of.

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[Middle English defilen, alteration (influenced by filen, to befoul, from Old English flan; see p- in Indo-European roots) of defoulen, to trample on, abuse, pollute, from Old French defouler, to trample, full cloth : de-, de- + fouler, to trample, beat down; see full².]

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de·filement n.

de·filer n.

de·filing·ly adv.

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de·file ²  (d-fl)

intr.v. de·filed, de·fil·ing, de·files

To march in single file or in files or columns.

n.

1. A narrow gorge or pass that restricts lateral movement, as of troops.

2. A march in a line.

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[French défiler : dé-, away, off (from Old French de-; see de-) + file, line, file (from Old French filer, to spin thread, march in line; see file¹). N., from French défilé, from past participle of défiler.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

defilement - the state of being polluted befoulment, pollution dirtiness, uncleanness - the state of being unsanitary