defy

The story

1. Latin · derived fromdis-“away”
2. Vulgar Latin · derived from*disfidare“renounce one's faith”
3. Old French · derived fromdesfier
4. English todaydefy

From Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”). Meaning shifted in the 14th century from "be disloyal" to "challenge". Contrast confide, fidelity, faith.

Words from the same roots