deferent

From French déférent, from Latin dēferēns, dēferentis.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɛfəɹənt/

deferent (comparative more deferent, superlative most deferent)

1. Showing deference.
2. (obsolete) Serving to carry; bearing.
   • Francis Bacon

     Bodies deferent.

• deferently

• deferential

deferent (plural deferents)

1. (anatomy) A deferent duct in the body, as opposed to an afferent one.
2. (obsolete) That which carries or conveys.
   • Francis Bacon

     though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds

3. (obsolete, Ptolemaic astronomy) An imaginary circle surrounding the Earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the centre of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

dēferent

1. third-person plural future active indicative of dēferō