## Meanings
1. To refuse to obey a person, rule, or law.
2. To not follow what is normal or expected.
3. To boldly challenge or stand up to a person or danger.

## Examples
- The workers defied their boss and went on strike.
- The little plant seemed to defy nature by growing in the rock.
- They defied the storm and sailed out to sea.

## Derived Forms
- death-defying
- defiable
- defier
- defyer
- redefy
- undefied

## Related Forms
- defiance
- defiant

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰeydʰ-
- Root: desfier
- Root: *disfidare
- Root: dis-

## Etymology
From Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”). Meaning shifted in the 14th century from "be disloyal" to "challenge". Contrast confide, fidelity, faith.

## AI Etymology
defy comes from Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”). Meaning shifted in the 14th century from "be disloyal" to "challenge". Contrast confide, fidelity, faith. The historical chain includes Proto-Indo-European *bʰeydʰ-, Old French desfier, la-vul *disfidare, Latin dis-. Current senses include to refuse to obey a person, rule, or law and to not follow what is normal or expected. English relatives and later formations include death-defying, defiable, defier, defiance, defiant.

## Topics
- Law & Government

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