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Defile Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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defile

[dɪˈfaɪl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

pollute

To make something dirty or impure, especially a sacred place.

Synonyms

contaminate, desecrate, pollute.

Examples of usage

  • The vandals defiled the church by spray painting graffiti on its walls.
  • She felt it was disrespectful to defile the memorial by leaving trash around it.
Context #2 | Verb

violate

To violate the purity, sanctity, or integrity of something.

Synonyms

profane, taint, violate.

Examples of usage

  • The soldiers defiled the enemy's territory by destroying crops and homes.
  • He felt that sharing personal information with strangers would defile his privacy.
Context #3 | Noun

damage

A spot or blemish that spoils the appearance of something.

Synonyms

blemish, flaw, stain.

Examples of usage

  • The defile on her dress was caused by a spill at the party.
  • He noticed a defile on the ancient manuscript, indicating its age.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Environmental Impact

  • The concept often applies to nature, where pollution can defile rivers and lakes, harming ecosystems.
  • Habitat destruction is a form of defilement, impacting countless species and biodiversity.
  • Common defilement actions include littering, which introduces waste and toxins into natural habitats.

Cultural Context

  • In various cultures, defilement is often linked to spirituality, where maintaining purity is crucial in rituals and practices.
  • Historical texts mention defilement in contexts of warfare, where land and resources were tarnished by conflict.
  • Art and literature frequently symbolize defilement as a loss of innocence or moral failing in characters.

Legal Implications

  • Defilement can have legal consequences, such as in cases of environmental laws where pollution is treated as a crime.
  • In some legal contexts, defilement is related to the offense of corrupting moral purity, especially concerning child protection laws.
  • Historical legal documents refer to defilement as a term used in cases of property damage, particularly to sacred spaces.

Origin of 'defile'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'defilare,' meaning to 'deprive of purity.'
  • It entered the English language in the late 15th century, originally referring to making something unclean in a moral sense.
  • The root 'filare' in Latin translates to 'to make' or 'to clean,' indicating a contrast in the meaning of the prefix 'de-' which indicates removal.

The word 'defile' originated from the Middle English 'defylen', which meant 'to pollute or corrupt'. It has roots in Old French and Latin, tracing back to the Latin word 'foul'. Over the centuries, 'defile' has evolved to encompass both physical and metaphorical meanings of contamination or violation.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,817, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.