Word Direct Answers

What does "defile" mean?

Defile: 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.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(Mil.) The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior. See Defilade.
  2. 3.To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul; to pollute. They that touch pitch will be defiled. Shak.
  3. 4.To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint. He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age, however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty hands. Swift.
  4. 5.To injure in purity of character; to corrupt. Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt. Ezek. xx.
  5. 6.4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate. The husband murder'd and the wife defiled. Prior.
  6. 7.To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute. That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile therewith. Lev. xxii. 8.

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