WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : De*fi"ance
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. desfier to challenge, F. d?fier. See Defy.]
Definition : 1. The act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat. A war without a just defiance made. Dryden. Stood for her cause, and flung defiance down. Tennyson.

2. A state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition to resist; contempt of opposition. He breathed defiance to my ears. Shak.

3. A casting aside; renunciation; rejection. [Obs.] "Defiance to thy kindness." Ford. To bid defiance, To set at defiance, to defy; to disregard recklessly or contemptuously. Locke.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913