demur definition |Dictionary.com

Browse Nearby Entries

Dempsey, William Har...

Dempster

dempster, arthur jef...

demur

8 dictionary results for: demur

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

de·mur

[di-mur] Pronunciation Key verb, -murred, -mur·ring, noun

–verb (used without object)

1.	to make objection, esp. on the grounds of scruples; take exception; object: They wanted to make him the treasurer, but he demurred.

2.	Law. to interpose a demurrer.

3.	Archaic. to linger; hesitate.

–noun

4.	the act of making objection.

5.	an objection raised.

6.	hesitation.

7.	Law. Obsolete. a demurrer.

[Origin: 1175–1225; ME demuren < AF demurer, OF demorer < L démorārī to linger, equiv. to dé- de- + morārī to delay, deriv. of mora delay

]

—Related forms

de·mur·ra·ble, adjective

—Synonyms 5. scruple, qualm, misgiving.

—Antonyms 1. agree, accede.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

de·mur (dĭ-mûr') Pronunciation Key
intr.v. de·murred, de·mur·ring, de·murs

To voice opposition; object: demurred at the suggestion. See Synonyms at object.
Law To enter a demurrer.
To delay.

The act of demurring.
An objection.
A delay.

[Middle English demuren, to delay, from Anglo-Norman demurer, from Latin dēmorārī : dē-, de- + morārī, to delay (from mora, delay).]

de·mur'ra·ble adj.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
demur (v.)

c.1225, "to linger, tarry," from O.Fr. demorer "delay, retard," from L. demorari, from de- + morari "to delay," from mora "a pause, delay." Main modern sense of "raise objections" is first attested 1639.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

demur
noun
1.	(law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings
verb
1.	take exception to; "he demurred at my suggestion to work on Saturday"
2.	enter a demurrer

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: de·mur
Pronunciation: di-'m&r
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Forms: de·murred; de·mur·ring
: to interpose a demurrer <demur to the declaration> —de·mur·ra·ble adjective

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Demur

De*mur"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Demurred; 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.]

Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp. --Nicols.

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.

Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur. --Hayward.

3. To scruple or object; to take exception; as, I demur to that statement.

4. (Law) To interpose a demurrer. See Demurrer, 2.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Demur

De*mur"\, v. t. 1. To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about. [Obs.]

The latter I demur, for in their looks Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. --Milton.

2. To cause delay to; to put off. [Obs.]

He demands a fee, And then demurs me with a vain delay. --Quarles.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This