Both Uses of
defile
in
Bleak House
- Fog up the river, where it flows among green aits and meadows; fog down the river, where it rolls defiled among the tiers of shipping and the waterside pollutions of a great (and dirty) city.†
Chpt 1-3 *
- A thick, yellow liquor defiles them, which is offensive to the touch and sight and more offensive to the smell.†
Chpt 31-33
Definition:
-
(defile as in: it was defiled) to spoil the beauty or purity of somethingin various senses, including:
- pollute a pristine lake
- harm a reputation or good name
- damage or disrespect something sacred
- take a person's virginity in a disrespectful way