defer
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
defer¹
- /dɪˈfɜː/ UK
- /dɪˈfeː/
- /dɪˈfɛː/
- /dɪˈfɜː(ɹ)/
- /dɪˈfɛr/ Scotland
- /dɪˈfɝ/ Canada, US
- /dɪˈfɜː/ Australia
- /dəˈføː/ New Zealand
Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)
Where it comes from
Originally a variant of (and hence a doublet of) differ; from Middle English differren (“to postpone”), from Old French differer, from Latin differō. Doublet of differ and dilate. See also infer, collate and confer, delate and defer, relate and refer as well as prelate and prefer among others.
verb defers · deferring · deferred
- To delay or postpone. We're going to defer the decision until we have all the facts.
- to postpone induction into military service.
- After winning the opening coin toss, to postpone until the start of the second half a team's choice of whether to kick off or receive (and to allow the opposing team to make this choice at the start of the first half).
- To delay, to wait. God […] will not long defer / To vindicate the glory of his name
defer²
- /dɪˈfɜː/ UK
- /dɪˈfeː/
- /dɪˈfɛː/
- /dɪˈfɜː(ɹ)/
- /dɪˈfɛr/ Scotland
- /dɪˈfɝ/ Canada, US
- /dɪˈfɜː/ Australia
- /dəˈføː/ New Zealand
Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From late Middle English differren (“to refer for judgement”), from Middle French déférer, from Latin dēferō. Doublet of delate. See also infer, collate and confer, relate and refer, as well as prelate and prefer among others.
verb defers · deferring · deferred
- To submit to the opinion or desire of others in respect to their judgment or authority. Hereupon the commissioners […] deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland.
- To render, to offer. worship deferred to the Virgin
