Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “desfier” come from?

desfier (Old French) comes from Vulgar Latin disfidare, from Latin dis-, from Latin calceus, from Latin calx, from Ancient Greek χάλιξ — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.

desfier (Old French): to defy

Definitions

  1. to defy

Ancestry of “desfier”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vulgar Latindisfidarerenounce one's faith
2Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
3Latincalceusshoe
4Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
5Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “desfier”

  • defy
  • defier
  • defieth
  • defiest
  • undefiable
  • defyer
  • defiable
  • redefy
  • desfiement
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →