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Defiant

3 stages from Vulgar Latin to English.

Today it means openly resisting

Where does the word "defiant" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin diffidare, passing through French before entering English (1830s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
diffidare
Vulgar Latin · ancient
"to renounce faith"
'dis-' plus 'fidus', faithful
2
Stage 2 of 3
defiant
French · 1500s
"defying"
present participle of 'defier', to challenge
3
Stage 3 of 3
defiant
English · 1830s
"defying"
'defy' is recorded from the 1300s
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Read the full story

Defiant’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: diffidare meant “to renounce faith.” 'dis-' plus 'fidus', faithful. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as defiant. Present participle of 'defier', to challenge. It reached English by 1830s as defiant. 'defy' is recorded from the 1300s. Today, defiant means openly resisting.