defile
UK: dɪˈfaɪl | US: dɪˈfaɪl
vt. 1. to make dirty or impure; pollute
vt. 2. to violate the sanctity of (e.g., a sacred place)
n. 3. a narrow mountain pass or gorge
The verb "defile" comes from Old French defouler ("trample, violate"), combining de- (indicating reversal or degradation) and fouler ("to trample"). The root file traces back to Latin filum ("thread"), metaphorically extended to mean "line" or "rank," reflecting how pollution disrupts order. The noun "defile" (narrow pass) derives from French défilé, literally "a place where troops march in single file (file)," emphasizing spatial constraint.
The factory waste defiled the once-pristine river.
Invaders defiled the temple by looting its treasures.
The hikers passed through a steep defile in the mountains.
Vandalism defiled the historic monument.
Soldiers advanced cautiously through the narrow defile.