demur
English
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman demorer, from Old French demorer (French demeurer), from Vulgar Latin demoro, Latin demorari (“to tarry”), from de- + morari (“to delay”).[1]
See alternative etymology in the Anglo-Norman ancestor.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) enPR: dĭmûrʹ, IPA(key): /dɪˈmɜː/
- (General American) enPR: dĭmûrʹ, IPA(key): /dɪˈmɝ/
- Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)
- Distinguish from pronunciation of demure
Verb
demur (third-person singular simple present demurs, present participle demurring, simple past and past participle demurred)
- (intransitive, obsolete) To linger; to stay; to tarry
- (Can we date this quote by Nicols?)
- Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp.
- (Can we date this quote by Nicols?)
- (intransitive) To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair.
- 1630, John Hayward, The Life and Raigne of King Edward the Sixth
- Vpon this rubbe the English Embassadors thought fit to demurre
- 1630, John Hayward, The Life and Raigne of King Edward the Sixth
- (intransitive) To scruple or object; to take exception; to oppose; to balk
- I demur to that statement.
- The personnel demurred at the management's new scheme.
- (intransitive, law) To interpose a demurrer.
- (transitive, obsolete) To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about
- (Can we date this quote by John Milton?)
- The latter I demur, for in their looks / Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears.
- (Can we date this quote by John Milton?)
- (transitive, obsolete) To cause delay to; to put off
- (Can we date this quote by Quarles?)
- He demands a fee, / And then demurs me with a vain delay.
- (Can we date this quote by Quarles?)
Translations
intransitive: To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings
intransitive: To balk; to oppose.
transitive, obsolete: To cause delay to; to put off
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Noun
demur (plural demurs)
- Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple.
- Alexander Pope
- All my demurs but double his attacks; At last he whispers, “Do; and we go snacks.”
- 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society 2011, p. 132:
- Most geologists today would accept such evidence without demur, but it was still ‘fringe’ science when du Toit was publishing.
- Alexander Pope
Translations
References
- “demur” Webster's dictionary
Latin
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