demur
English
Etymology
From Middle English demuren, from Anglo-Norman demorer (French demeurer), from Vulgar Latin demorō, Latin demoror (“to tarry”), from de- + moror (“to delay”).[1]
See alternative etymology in the Anglo-Norman ancestor.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) enPR: dĭmûrʹ, IPA(key): /dɪˈmɜː/
- (General American) enPR: dĭmûrʹ, IPA(key): /dɪˈmɝ/
- Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)
- Distinguish from pronunciation of demure
Audio (UK) (file)
Verb
demur (third-person singular simple present demurs, present participle demurring, simple past and past participle demurred)
- (intransitive, obsolete) To linger; to stay; to tarry
- (intransitive) To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair.
- 1630, John Hayward, The Life and Raigne of King Edward the Sixth
- Vpon this rubbe the English Embassadors thought fit to demurre
- 1630, John Hayward, The Life and Raigne of King Edward the Sixth
- (intransitive) To scruple or object; to take exception; to oppose; to balk
- I demur to that statement.
- The personnel demurred at the management's new scheme.
- (intransitive, law) To interpose a demurrer.
- (transitive, obsolete) To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about
- 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], OCLC 228722708; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554:
- The latter I demur, for in their looks / Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears.
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- (transitive, obsolete) To cause delay to; to put off
- 1635, Fra[ncis] Quarles, “Canto XI. Cant[icles] III. II.”, in Emblemes, London: […] G[eorge] M[iller] and sold at at Iohn Marriots shope […], OCLC 1161712157, book IV, stanza 4, page 226:
- I ask'd the Lavvyer; He demands a Fee, / And then demurres me vvith a vaine delay: […]
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Related terms
- demurrage
- demurral
- demurrer
Translations
intransitive: To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings
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intransitive: To balk; to oppose.
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transitive, obsolete: To cause delay to; to put off
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Noun
demur (plural demurs)
- An act of hesitation as to proceeding; a scruple; also, a suspension of action or decision; a pause, a stop.
- 1647, Theodore de la Guard [pseudonym; Nathaniel Ward], The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America. […], London: […] J[ohn] D[ever] & R[obert] I[bbitson] for Stephen Bowtell, […], OCLC 560031272, page 37:
- If publique Aſſemblies of Divines cannot agree upon a right vvay, private Conventicles of illeterate men, vvill ſoon finde a vvrong. Bivious demurres breed devious reſolutions. Paſſengers to heaven are in haſte, and vvill vvalk one vvay or other.
- 1735, [Alexander] Pope, An Epistle from Mr. Pope, to Dr. Arbuthnot, London; Dublin: Re-printed by George Faulkner, bookseller, […], OCLC 6363280:
- All my demurs but double his attacks; At last he whispers, “Do; and we go snacks.”
- 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society 2011, p. 132:
- Most geologists today would accept such evidence without demur, but it was still ‘fringe’ science when du Toit was publishing.
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Translations
hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple
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References
- “demur” Webster's dictionary
Anagrams
- MUDer, mured
Latin
Verb
dēmur
- first-person plural present passive subjunctive of dō
Middle English
Adjective
demur
- Alternative form of demure (“demure”)