defer
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /dɪˈfɜː(ɹ)/
- Rhymes: -ɜː(r)
Etymology 1
From Old French differer, from Latin differre.
Verb
defer (third-person singular simple present defers, present participle deferring, simple past and past participle deferred)
- (transitive) To delay or postpone; especially to postpone induction into military service.
- (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare
- Defer the spoil of the city until night.
- (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare
- (American football) After winning the opening coin toss, to postpone until the start of the second half a team's choice of whether to kick off or receive (and to allow the opposing team to make this choice at the start of the first half).
- (intransitive) To delay, to wait.
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
- God […] will not long defer / To vindicate the glory of his name.
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
Related terms
Translations
(transitive) to delay
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Etymology 2
- From Middle French deferer, from Latin deferre.
Verb
defer (third-person singular simple present defers, present participle deferring, simple past and past participle deferred)
- (law, intransitive) To submit to the opinion or desire of another in respect to their judgment or authority.
- (Can we date this quote?) Francis Bacon
- Hereupon the commissioners […] deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland.
- 1902, Joseph Conrad, chapter II, in Heart of Darkness:
- "Well, I must defer to your judgment. You are captain," he said with marked civility.
- (Can we date this quote?) Francis Bacon
- To render, to offer.
- (Can we date this quote?) Brevint
- worship deferred to the Virgin
- (Can we date this quote?) Brevint
Derived terms
Translations
to submit to the opinion or desire of another
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Latin
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈdeː.fer/, [ˈdeː.fɛr]
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