defilement
/dɪˈfaɪəlmənt/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.07 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The protection of the interior walls of a fortification from enfilading fire, as by covering them, or by a high parapet on the exposed side.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Time has taken a terrible revenge upon mankind for his despoliation of the valleys and his defilement of the mountains, yet the industries and the railways of South Wales still put the bravest front upon an outlook which all may hope is becoming less saddening and less grim."
- "The new law also applies to acts of defilement besides burning, such as publicly ripping a flag up. Public display of the Nazi swastika and other Nazi symbols is already banned in Germany."
Etymology
Etymology tree English defile Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English defilement From defile + -ment.
Regional Pronunciation
- British English: /dɪˈfaɪəlmənt/