ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Defer', Synonyms of 'Defer' & More on 'Defer'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

defer
    v 1: hold back to a later time; "let's postpone the exam" [syn:
         postpone, prorogue, hold over, put over, table,
         shelve, set back, defer, remit, put off]
    2: yield to another's wish or opinion; "The government bowed to
       the military pressure" [syn: submit, bow, defer,
       accede, give in]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Defer \De*fer"\, 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. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Defer \De*fer"\, v. t. [F. d['e]f['e]rer 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.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Worship deferred to the Virgin.       --Brevint.
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   2. 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. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Defer \De*fer"\, 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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5. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Defer \De*fer"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deferred; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Deferring.] [OE. differren, F. diff['e]rer, 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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Thesaurus Results for defer:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

accede, accede to, accommodate, acquiesce, adapt, adjourn, adjust, agree, agree to, assent, block, bow, bow to, capitulate, cave, comply with, conform, continue, cringe, defer to, delay, detain, drag out, extend, fawn, hang fire, hang up, hinder, hold off, hold over, hold up, impede, intermit, knuckle, knuckle under, lay aside, lay by, lay over, lengthen, obstruct, pigeonhole, postpone, prolong, prorogate, prorogue, protract, push aside, put aside, put off, put on ice, put over, recess, remit, reserve, retard, set aside, set by, shelve, shift off, sleep on, slow, stall, stand over, stave off, stay, stretch out, submit, submit to, succumb, suspend, table, take a recess, truckle, waive, yield to

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