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.

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