defy
/dɪˈfaɪ/verb
(-ies, -ied)with obj.
1- openly resist or refuse to obey公然反抗; 藐视：
a woman who defies convention.
反传统的女子。
1.1
- (of a thing) make (an action or quality) almost impossible（某物）使（行动, 品质）几乎不可能：
his actions defy belief.
他的行为让人难以置信。
1.2
- with obj. and infinitive appear to be challenging (someone) to do or prove something向（某人）挑衅（或挑战）, 激：
he glowered at her, defying her to mock him.
他对她怒目而视, 激她嘲弄他。
1.3
- archaic challenge to combat〈古〉向…挑战：
go now, defy him to the combat.
上啊, 去向他挑战。
派生词
defier
noun词源
Middle English （in the senses 'renounce an allegiance' and 'challenge to combat'）： from Old French desfier, based on Latin dis- (expressing reversal)+ fidus 'faithful'.