demur

[ dih-mur ]
See synonyms for: demurdemurreddemurring on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),de·murred, de·mur·ring.
  1. to make objection, especially on the grounds of scruples; take exception; object: They wanted to make him the treasurer, but he demurred.

  2. Law. to interpose a demurrer.

  1. Archaic. to linger; hesitate.

noun
  1. the act of making objection.

  2. an objection raised.

  1. Law: Obsolete. a demurrer.

Origin of demur

1
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

Other words for demur

Opposites for demur

Other words from demur

  • de·mur·ra·ble, adjective
  • un·de·mur·ring, adjective

Words that may be confused with demur

Words Nearby demur

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use demur in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for demur

demur

/ (dɪˈmɜː) /


verb-murs, -murring or -murred (intr)
  1. to raise objections or show reluctance; object

  2. law to raise an objection by entering a demurrer

  1. archaic to hesitate; delay

nounalso: demurral (dɪˈmʌrəl)
  1. the act of demurring

  2. an objection raised

  1. archaic hesitation

Origin of demur

1
C13: from Old French demorer, from Latin dēmorārī to loiter, linger, from morārī to delay, from mora a delay

Derived forms of demur

  • demurrable, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012