GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Defer , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deferred ; p. pr. & vb. n. Deferring.] [OE. differren, F. différer, 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.
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   Defer the spoil of the city until night.
   Shak.
   
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   God . . . will not long defer
   To vindicate the glory of his name.
   Milton.
   
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2.       
   Defer, v. i. To put off; to delay to act; to wait.
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   Pius was able to defer and temporize at leisure.
   J. A. Symonds.
   
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3.       
   Defer, v. t. [F. déférer 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.]
   To render or offer. [Obs.]
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   Worship deferred to the Virgin.
   Brevint.
   
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   To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer; -- with to.
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   Hereupon the commissioners . . . deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland.
   Bacon.
   
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4.       
   Defer, v. i. To yield deference to the wishes of another; to submit to the opinion of another, or to authority; -- with to.
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   The house, deferring to legal right, acquiesced.
   Bancroft.
   
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