De*fer" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deferred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deferring.] [OE. differren, F. diff'erer, fr. L. differre to delay, bear different ways; dis- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Differ, Defer to offer.]
To put off; to postpone to a future time; to delay the execution of; to delay; to withhold.
Defer the spoil of the city until night.
Shak.
God . . . will not long defer
To vindicate the glory of his name.
Milton.
© Webster 1913.
De*fer", v. i.
To put off; to delay to act; to wait.
Pius was able to defer and temporize at leisure.
J. A. Symonds.
© Webster 1913.
De*fer", v. t. [F. d'ef'erer to pay deference, to yield, to bring before a judge, fr. L. deferre to bring down; de- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Defer to delay, Delate.]
1.
To render or offer.
[Obs.]
Worship deferred to the Virgin.
Brevint.
2.
To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer; -- with to.
Hereupon the commissioners . . . deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland.
Bacon.
© Webster 1913.
De*fer", v. i.
To yield deference to the wishes of another; to submit to the opinion of another, or to authority; -- with to.
The house, deferring to legal right, acquiesced.
Bancroft.
© Webster 1913.