defil

n. (Mil.) The art or act of determining the directions and heights of the lines of rampart with reference to the protection of the interior from exposure to an enemy's fire from any point within range, or from any works which may be erected. Farrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Mil.) Same as Defilade. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Defiled p. pr. & vb. n. Defiling. ] [ F. défiler; pref. dé-, for des- (L. dis-) + file a row or line. See File a row. ] To march off in a line, file by file; to file off. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. défilé, fr. défiler to defile. ] 1. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior. See Defilade. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. defoulen, -foilen, to tread down, OF. defouler; de- + fouler to trample (see Full, v. t.), and OE. defoulen to foul (influenced in form by the older verb defoilen). See File to defile, Foul, Defoul. ] 1. To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul; to pollute. [ 1913 Webster ]

They that touch pitch will be defiled. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age, however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty hands. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To injure in purity of character; to corrupt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt. Ezek. xx. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate; to rape. [ 1913 Webster ]

The husband murder'd and the wife defiled. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute. [ 1913 Webster ]

That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile therewith. Lev. xxii. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. morally blemished. [ archaic ]
Syn. -- maculate. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. (Religion) ritually unclean. Opposite of clean.
Syn. -- unclean, impure. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ From 3d Defile. ] The act of defiling, or state of being defiled, whether physically or morally; pollution; foulness; dirtiness; uncleanness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Defilements of the flesh. Hopkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

The chaste can not rake into such filth without danger of defilement. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. défilement. See Defile ] (Mil.) The protection of the interior walls of a fortification from an enfilading fire, as by covering them, or by a high parapet on the exposed side. [ 1913 Webster ]