demur

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) enPR: dĭmûrʹ, IPA(key): /dɪˈmɜː/ (General American) enPR: dĭmûrʹ, IPA(key): /dɪˈmɜɹ/ Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ) Hyphenation: de‧mur === Etymology 1 === From Middle English demuren (“to delay; to linger; to remain (in office); to keep, retain (?)”), from Anglo-Norman demorer and Old French demorer, demourer (“to remain, stay”) (modern French demeurer), from Vulgar Latin dēmorāre, from Latin dēmorārī, the present active infinitive of Latin dēmoror (“to delay, detain; to linger, tarry”), from de- (intensifying prefix) + moror (“to delay, detain; to hinder, impede; to linger, loiter”) (from mora (“a delay; hindrance, obstacle”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mer- (“to fall into thinking; to remember”), probably referring to a time for thinking) + -or (variant of -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)). ==== Verb ==== demur (third-person singular simple present demurs, present participle demurring, simple past and past participle demurred) (intransitive) Chiefly followed by to, and sometimes by at or on: to object or be reluctant; to balk, to take exception. Synonyms: oppose, scruple (law) To submit a demurrer (“motion by a party to a legal action for the immediate or summary judgment of the court on the question of whether, assuming the truth of the matter alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the action or defence, and hence whether the party bringing the motion is required to answer or proceed further”). (obsolete) To endure, to last. (obsolete) To linger, to tarry. (obsolete) To remain, to stay. Synonym: abide (obsolete) To suspend judgment or proceedings because of a difficulty or doubt; to put off the conclusion or determination of a matter; to delay, to hesitate, to pause. (obsolete, rare) To have doubts; to be doubtful. (obsolete, figurative) Followed by upon: to be captivated or fixated; to dwell on, to linger. (transitive) (rare) To object or take exception to (something). (obsolete) To cause delay to (someone or something); to put off. (obsolete) To have doubts or hesitate about (something). ===== Conjugation ===== ===== Derived terms ===== demurrable demurral demurrer demurring (adjective, noun) ===== Related terms ===== demurrage ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English demure, demore (“a delay, demur; a sojourn, stay”), from Old French demure, demore, demuere (“a delay, demur”) (modern French demeure), from Old French demorer, demourer (verb): see etymology 1. ==== Noun ==== demur (plural demurs) An act of objecting or taking exception; a scruple; also, an exception taken or objection to something. (obsolete) An act of continuing; a continuance. An act of lingering or tarrying. An act of remaining or staying; a residence, a stay. Synonym: abode A state of having doubts; a hesitation, a pause. (law) Synonym of demurrer (“a motion by a party to a legal action for the immediate or summary judgment of the court on the question of whether, assuming the truth of the matter alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the action or defence, and hence whether the party bringing the motion is required to answer or proceed further”). ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === References === === Anagrams === MUDer, mured == Latin == === Verb === dēmur first-person plural present passive subjunctive of dō == Middle English == === Adjective === demur alternative form of demure (“demure”)