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defile
(redirected from defilers)

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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.

[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.]

de·filement n.
de·filer n.
de·filing·ly adv.

defile 1
Verb
[-filing, -filed]
1. to make foul or dirty
2. to make unfit for ceremonial use [Old French defouler to trample underfoot, abuse]
defilement n

defile 2
Noun
a narrow pass or gorge: the sandy defile of Wadi Rum [French défiler to file off]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.defiledefile - a narrow pass (especially one between mountains)
mountain pass, notch, pass - the location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks; "we got through the pass before it started to snow"
Verb1.defile - place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's reputation"
mar, deflower, impair, vitiate, spoil - make imperfect; "nothing marred her beauty"
2.defile - make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically; "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man"
blob, fleck, blot, spot - make a spot or mark onto; "The wine spotted the tablecloth"
darken - tarnish or stain; "a scandal that darkened the family's good name"
3.defile - spot, stain, or pollute; "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it"
attaint, disgrace, dishonor, dishonour, shame - bring shame or dishonor upon; "he dishonored his family by committing a serious crime"

defile
verb 1. degrade, stain, disgrace, sully, debase, dishonour, besmirch, smirch
verb 2. desecrate, violate, contaminate, abuse, pollute, profane, dishonour, despoil, treat sacrilegiously
Translations

defile [dɪˈfaɪl] vtmanchar (= violate); violar
defile [dɪˈfaɪl] vtsouiller
vidéfiler
n [ˈdiːfaɪl]défilé m
defile [dɪˈfaɪl] vt (memory) → beschmutzen;
(statue etc) → schänden
nHohlweg m
defile vb [dɪˈfaɪl]
visfilare
n [ˈdiːfaɪl]gola, stretta

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