Prophecy - Thrice Defied?

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 113498

"gelite67" wrote:
> Does anyone else wonder what "thrice defied" means in the prophecy 
in OOP? Does that mean Lily & James and the Longbottoms refused to 
join LV three times each?  Or does "defy" mean something else? 
Regardless of what it means,why would LV give them a second or third 
chance to defy him?  Unlike DD, I would imagine LV doesn't believe 
in second or third chances.
> 
> Angie

Valky:
When JKR said she worded the prophecy *carefully* she sure did!
The word defy is THIS ambiguous take a look:

de·fy    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (d-f)
tr.v. de·fied, de·fy·ing, de·fies 

To oppose or resist with boldness and assurance: defied the blockade 
by sailing straight through it. 
To refuse to submit to or cooperate with: defied the court order by 
leaving the country. 
To be unaffected by; resist or withstand: "So the plague defied all 
medicines" (Daniel Defoe). 
To challenge or dare (someone) to do something: She defied her 
accusers to prove their charges. 


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[Middle English defien, from Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin 
*disfdre : Latin dis-, dis- + Latin fdus, faithful; see bheidh- in 
Indo-European Roots.] 
Synonyms: defy, brave, challenge, dare, face
These verbs mean to confront boldly and courageously: an innovator 
defying tradition; braving all criticism; challenged the opposition 
to produce proof; daring him to deny the statement; faced her 
accusers. 


Defy \De*fy"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defied; p. pr. & vb. n. Defying.] 
[F. d['e]fier, OF. deffier, desfier, LL. disfidare to disown faith 
or fidelity, to dissolve the bond of allegiance, as between the 
vassal and his lord; hence, to challenge, defy; fr. L. dis- + fides 
faith. See Faith, and cf. Diffident, Affiance.] 1. To renounce or 
dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to 
reject, refuse, or renounce. [Obs.]

I defy the surety and the bond. --Chaucer.

For thee I have defied my constant mistress. --Beau. & Fl.

2. To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to 
challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with 
contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; 
to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion.

I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight. --Milton.

I defy the enemies of our constitution to show the contrary. --Burke.

Discuss....

Valky
LOL this should get us all the way to book six, yes?