demur
[ dih-mur ]
/ dɪˈmɜr /
verb (used without object), de·murred, de·mur·ring.
to make objection, especially on the grounds of scruples; take exception; object: They wanted to make him the treasurer, but he demurred.
Law. to interpose a demurrer.
Archaic. to linger; hesitate.
noun
RELATED WORDS
hesitate, vacillate, waver, pussyfoot, disapprove, resist, strain, protest, scruple, pause, fight, doubt, dispute, cavil, balk, combat, object, stick, complain, refuse
Nearby words
- dempsey, jack,
- dempster,
- demucosation,
- demulcent,
- demulsify,
- demure,
- demurrage,
- demurral,
- demurrer,
- demuth
Origin of demur
1175–1225; Middle English demuren < Anglo-French demurer, Old French demorer < Latin dēmorārī to linger, equivalent to dē- de- + morārī to delay, derivative of mora delay
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for demur
demur
/ (dɪˈmɜː) /
verb -murs, -murring or -murred (intr)
to raise objections or show reluctance; object
law to raise an objection by entering a demurrer
archaic to hesitate; delay
noun also: demurral (dɪˈmʌrəl)
the act of demurring
an objection raised
archaic hesitation
Word Origin for demur
C13: from Old French demorer, from Latin dēmorārī to loiter, linger, from morārī to delay, from mora a delay
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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demur
c.1200, "to linger, tarry, delay," from Old French demorer "delay, retard," from Latin demorari "to linger, loiter, tarry," from de- (see de-) + morari "to delay," from mora "a pause, delay" (see moratorium). Main modern sense of "raise objections" is first attested 1630s. Related: Demurred; demurring.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper