Defer Definition

dĭ-fûr
deferred, deferring, defers
verb
deferred, deferring, defers
To put off to a future time; postpone; delay.
Webster's New World
To put off; postpone.
American Heritage
To give in to the wish or judgment of another, as in showing respect; yield with courtesy (to)
Webster's New World
To commit or entrust to another.
The principal deferred the decision to the school board.
American Heritage
To postpone the induction of (one eligible for the military draft).
American Heritage

Origin of Defer

  • Middle English deferen from Old French deferer from Latin dēferre to carry away, refer to dē- de- ferre to carry bher-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English differren to postpone, differ differ

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old French differer, from Latin differre.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle French deferer, from Latin deferre

    From Wiktionary

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