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Defiance

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. Defiance to thy kindness. to bid defiance, to set at defiance, to defy; to disregard recklessly or contemptuously.

Origin: OF. Defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. Desfier to challenge, f. Defier. See Defy.