n. (Zool.) A long, thin, marine fish of Europe (Trichiurus lepturus); the ribbon fish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. desfier to challenge, F. défier. See Defy. ] 1. The act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat. [ 1913 Webster ]

A war without a just defiance made. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stood for her cause, and flung defiance down. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition to resist; contempt of opposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

He breathed defiance to my ears. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A casting aside; renunciation; rejection. [ Obs. ] “Defiance to thy kindness.” Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

To bid defiance,
To set at defiance, to defy; to disregard recklessly or contemptuously. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. défiant, p. pr. of défier. See Defy. ] Full of defiance; bold; insolent; as, a defiant spirit or act. [ 1913 Webster ]

In attitude stern and defiant. Longfellow.

-- De*fi"ant*ly, adv. -- De*fi"ant*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Defy. ] Bidding or manifesting defiance. [ Obs. ] Shelford. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To deprive of fibrin, as fresh blood or lymph by stirring with twigs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of depriving of fibrin. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To defibrinate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Deficiency. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee
Is no deficience found. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Deficiencies [ See Deficient. ] The state of being deficient; inadequacy; want; failure; imperfection; shortcoming; defect. “A deficiency of blood.” Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Marlborough ] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the ridicule of his contemporaries. Buckle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deficiency of a curve (Geom.), the amount by which the number of double points on a curve is short of the maximum for curves of the same degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. deficiens, -entis, p. pr. of deficere to be wanting. See Defect. ] Wanting, to make up completeness; wanting, as regards a requirement; not sufficient; inadequate; defective; imperfect; incomplete; lacking; as, deficient parts; deficient estate; deficient strength; deficient in judgment. [ 1913 Webster ]

The style was indeed deficient in ease and variety. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deficient number. (Arith.) See under Abundant.

-- De*fi"cient-ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Lit., it is wanting, 3d person pres. indic. of L. deficere, cf. F. déficit. See Defect. ] Deficiency in amount or quality; a falling short; lack; as, a deficit in taxes, revenue, etc. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Defy. ] One who dares and defies; a contemner; as, a defier of the laws. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Disfiguration; mutilation. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. de- (intens.) + figure. ] To delineate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

These two stones as they are here defigured. Weever. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Defiladed; p. pr. & vb. n. Defilading. ] [ Cf. F. défiler to defile, and défilade act of defiling. See 1st Defile. ] (Mil.) To raise, as a rampart, so as to shelter interior works commanded from some higher point. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mil.) The art or act of determining the directions and heights of the lines of rampart with reference to the protection of the interior from exposure to an enemy's fire from any point within range, or from any works which may be erected. Farrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Defiled p. pr. & vb. n. Defiling. ] [ F. défiler; pref. dé-, for des- (L. dis-) + file a row or line. See File a row. ] To march off in a line, file by file; to file off. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Mil.) Same as Defilade. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. défilé, fr. défiler to defile. ] 1. Any narrow passage or gorge in which troops can march only in a file, or with a narrow front; a long, narrow pass between hills, rocks, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior. See Defilade. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. defoulen, -foilen, to tread down, OF. defouler; de- + fouler to trample (see Full, v. t.), and OE. defoulen to foul (influenced in form by the older verb defoilen). See File to defile, Foul, Defoul. ] 1. To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul; to pollute. [ 1913 Webster ]

They that touch pitch will be defiled. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age, however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty hands. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To injure in purity of character; to corrupt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt. Ezek. xx. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate; to rape. [ 1913 Webster ]

The husband murder'd and the wife defiled. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute. [ 1913 Webster ]

That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile therewith. Lev. xxii. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. morally blemished. [ archaic ]
Syn. -- maculate. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. (Religion) ritually unclean. Opposite of clean.
Syn. -- unclean, impure. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. F. défilement. See Defile ] (Mil.) The protection of the interior walls of a fortification from an enfilading fire, as by covering them, or by a high parapet on the exposed side. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From 3d Defile. ] The act of defiling, or state of being defiled, whether physically or morally; pollution; foulness; dirtiness; uncleanness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Defilements of the flesh. Hopkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

The chaste can not rake into such filth without danger of defilement. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who defiles; one who corrupts or violates; that which pollutes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. de- + filius son. ] Abstraction of a child from its parents. Lamb. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Define. ] Capable of being defined, limited, or explained; determinable; describable by definition; ascertainable; as, definable limits; definable distinctions or regulations; definable words. -- De*fin"a*bly, adv. [1913 Webster]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Defined p. pr. & vb. n. Defining. ] [ OE. definer, usually, to end, to finish, F. définir to define, L. definire to limit, define; de- + finire to limit, end, finis boundary, limit, end. See Final, Finish. ] 1. To fix the bounds of; to bring to a termination; to end. “To define controversies.” Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To determine or clearly exhibit the boundaries of; to mark the limits of; as, to define the extent of a kingdom or country. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly; as, the defining power of an optical instrument. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rings . . . very distinct and well defined. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To determine the precise signification of; to fix the meaning of; to describe accurately; to explain; to expound or interpret; as, to define a word, a phrase, or a scientific term. [ 1913 Webster ]

They define virtue to be life ordered according to nature. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To determine; to decide. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of defining; definition; description. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who defines or explains. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. défini. See Define. ] 1. Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval. [ 1913 Webster ]

Elements combine in definite proportions. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or expression. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Determined; resolved. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article. [ 1913 Webster ]

Definite article (Gram.), the article the, which is used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n. - -
Definite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determinate inflorescence, under Determinate. --
Law of definite proportions (Chem.), the essential law of chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by weight; and, if two or more elements form more than one compound with each other, the relative proportions of each are fixed. Compare Law of multiple proportions, under Multiple. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A thing defined or determined. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a definite manner; with precision; precisely; determinately. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being definite; determinateness; precision; certainty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. definitio: cf. F. définition. ] 1. The act of defining; determination of the limits; as, a telescope accurate in definition. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Act of ascertaining and explaining the signification; a description of a thing by its properties; an explanation of the meaning of a word or term; as, the definition of “circle;” the definition of “wit;” an exact definition; a loose definition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Definition being nothing but making another understand by words what the term defined stands for. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Description; sort. [ R. ] “A new creature of another definition.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Logic) An exact enunciation of the constituents which make up the logical essence. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Opt.) Distinctness or clearness, as of an image formed by an optical instrument; precision in detail.

Syn. -- Definition, Explanation, Description. A definition is designed to settle a thing in its compass and extent; an explanation is intended to remove some obscurity or misunderstanding, and is therefore more extended and minute; a description enters into striking particulars with a view to interest or impress by graphic effect. It is not therefore true, though often said, that description is only an extended definition. “Logicians distinguish definitions into essential and accidental. An essential definition states what are regarded as the constituent parts of the essence of that which is to be defined; and an accidental definition lays down what are regarded as circumstances belonging to it, viz., properties or accidents, such as causes, effects, etc.” Whately. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to definition; of the nature of a definition; employed in defining. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. definitivus: cf. F. définitif. ] 1. Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express. [ 1913 Webster ]

A strict and definitive truth. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some definitive . . . scheme of reconciliation. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Limiting; determining; as, a definitive word. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Determined; resolved. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gram.) A word used to define or limit the extent of the signification of a common noun, such as the definite article, and some pronouns. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Definitives . . . are commonly called by grammarians articles. . . . They are of two kinds, either those properly and strictly so called, or else pronominal articles, such as this, that, any, other, some, all, no, none, etc. Harris (Hermes). [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a definitive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being definitive. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Definiteness. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Definitude . . . is a knowledge of minute differences. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. defixus, p. p. of defigere to fix; de- + figere to fix. ] To fix; to fasten; to establish. [ Obs. ] “To defix their princely seat . . . in that extreme province.” Hakluyt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of not being deficient. [ Obs. ] Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. indeficiens. See In- not, and Deficient. ] Not deficient; full. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Brighter than the sun, and indeficient as the light of heaven. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Incapable of being defined or described; inexplicable. Bp. Reynolds. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an indefinable manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. indefinitus. See In- not, and Definite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an indefinite time, plan, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

It were to be wished that . . . men would leave off that indefinite way of vouching, “the chymists say this, ” or “the chymists affirm that.” Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

The time of this last is left indefinite. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having no determined or certain limits; large and unmeasured, though not infinite; unlimited; as, indefinite space; the indefinite extension of a straight line. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though it is not infinite, it may be indefinite; though it is not boundless in itself, it may be so to human comprehension. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Boundless; infinite. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Indefinite and omnipresent God,
Inhabiting eternity. W. Thompson (1745). [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Indefinite article (Gram.), the word a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class. --
Indefinite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Indeterminate inflorescence, under Indeterminate. --
Indefinite proposition (Logic), a statement whose subject is a common term, with nothing to indicate distribution or nondistribution; as, Man is mortal. --
Indefinite term (Logic), a negative term; as, the not-good.

Syn. -- Inexplicit; vague; uncertain; unsettled; indeterminate; loose; equivocal; inexact; approximate. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an indefinite manner or degree; without any settled limitation; vaguely; not with certainty or exactness; as, to use a word indefinitely. [ 1913 Webster ]

If the world be indefinitely extended, that is, so far as no human intellect can fancy any bound of it. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being indefinite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Indefiniteness; vagueness; also, number or quantity not limited by our understanding, though yet finite. [ Obs. ] Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]