dictionary definitions for "demur"


From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Demur \De*mur"\, v. t.
     1. To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate
        about. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The latter I demur, for in their looks
              Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears.
                                                    --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To cause delay to; to put off. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He demands a fee,
              And then demurs me with a vain delay. --Quarles.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Demur \De*mur"\ (d[-e]*m[^u]r"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Demurred
     (d[-e]*m[^u]rd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Demurring.] [OF. demurer,
     demorer, demourer, to linger, stay, F. demeurer, fr. L.
     demorari; de- + morari to delay, tarry, stay, mora delay;
     prob. originally, time for thinking, reflection, and akin to
     memor mindful. See Memory.]
     1. To linger; to stay; to tarry. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp.
                                                    --Nicols.
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     2. 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit
              to demur.                             --Hayward.
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     3. To scruple or object; to take exception, especailly on the
        basis of scruple or modesty; as, I demur to that
        statement; they wanted to make him president, but he
        demurred.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              When introduced as the world's smartest man, he was
              not inclined to demur.                --Kip Thorne
        [PJC]
  
     4. (Law) To interpose a demurrer. See Demurrer, 2.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Demur \De*mur"\, n. [OF. demor, demore, stay, delay. See
     Demur, v. i.]
     Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of
     decision or action; scruple.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           All my demurs but double his attacks;
           At last he whispers, "Do; and we go snacks." --Pope.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

  demur
      n 1: (law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings [syn:
           demur, demurral, demurrer]
      v 1: take exception to; "he demurred at my suggestion to work on
           Saturday" [syn: demur, except]
      2: enter a demurrer


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