as well as
actual dangers. We speak of _defense_ against an assault, _protection_
from the cold. _Vindication_ is a triumphant _defense_ of character and
conduct against charges of error or wrong. Compare APOLOGY.

Antonyms:

abandonment, betrayal, capitulation, desertion, flight, surrender.

Prepositions:

Defense _against_ assault or assailants; in law, defense _to_ an action,
_from_ the testimony.

* * * * *

DEFILE.

Synonyms:

befoul, corrupt, pollute, spoil, sully, tarnish,
contaminate, infect, soil, stain, taint, vitiate.

The hand may be _defiled_ by a touch of pitch; swine that have been
wallowing in the mud are _befouled_. _Contaminate_ and _infect_ refer to
something evil that deeply pervades and permeates, as the human body or
mind. _Pollute_ is used chiefly of liquids; as, water _polluted_ with
sewage. _Tainted_ meat is repulsive; _infected_ meat contains germs of
disease. A _soiled_ garment may be cleansed by washing; a _spoiled_
garment is beyond cleansing or repair. Bright metal is _tarnished_ by
exposure; a fair sheet is _sullied_ by a dirty hand. In figurative use,
_defile_ may be used merely in the ceremonial sense; "they themselves
went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be _defiled_," _John_
xviii, 28; _contaminate_ refers to deep spiritual injury. _Pollute_ has
also a reference to sacrilege; as, to _pollute_ a sanctuary, an altar,
or an ordinance. The innocent are often _contaminated_ by association
with the wicked; the vicious are more and more _corrupted_ by their own
excesses. We speak of a _vitiated_ taste or style; fraud _vitiates_ a
title or a contract.

Antonyms:

clean, cleanse, disinfect, hallow, purify, sanctify, wash.

Prepositions:

The temple was defiled _with_ blood; defiled _by_ sacrilegious deeds.

* * * * *

DEFINITION.

Synonyms:

comment, description, exposition, rendering,
commentary, explanation, interpretation, translation.

A _definition_ is exact, an _explanation_ general; a _definition_ is
formal, a _description_ pictorial. A _definition_ must include all that
belongs to the object defined, and exclude all that does not; a
_description_ may include only some general features; an _explanation_
may simply throw light upon some point of special difficulty. An
_exposition_ undertakes to state more fully what is compactly g