to bid defiance

1 definition found

to bid defiance - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Defiance \De*fi"ance\, n. [OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge,
     fr. desfier to challenge, F. d['e]fier. See Defy.]
     1. The act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to
        combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat.
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              A war without a just defiance made.   --Dryden.
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              Stood for her cause, and flung defiance down.
                                                    --Tennyson.
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     2. A state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition
        to resist; contempt of opposition.
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              He breathed defiance to my ears.      --Shak.
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     3. A casting aside; renunciation; rejection. [Obs.] "Defiance
        to thy kindness." --Ford.
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     To bid defiance, To set at defiance, to defy; to
        disregard recklessly or contemptuously. --Locke.
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