Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Origin: defoul 'to crush with the feet, make dirty' (13-17 centuries), from Old French defouler, from fouler 'to step on'

defile

1 verb
     
de‧file1 [transitive] formal
to make something less pure and good, especially by showing no respect:
Hallam's tomb had been defiled and looted.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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