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   defile

   /dɪˈfʌɪl/

   verb

   • 1. damage the purity or appearance of; mar or spoil: "the land was defiled by a previous owner" Similar spoilsullymarimpairdebasedegradepollutepoisoncorrupttainttarnishinfectfoulbefouldirtysoilstaindestroyruinOpposite purify
   • ▪ desecrate or profane (something sacred): "the tomb had been defiled and looted" Similar desecrateprofaneviolatetreat sacrilegiouslymake impurecontaminatepollutedebasedegradedishonourvitiateOpposite sanctify
   • ▪ rape or sexually assault (a woman): "he took her behind the building and defiled her"

   Word Origin late Middle English: alteration of obsolete defoul, from Old French defouler ‘trample down’, influenced by obsolete befile ‘befoul, defile’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. defiler noun

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

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