v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Deferred p. pr. & vb. n. Deferring. ] [ OE. differren, F. différer, fr. L. differre to delay, bear different ways; dis- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Differ, Defer to offer. ] To put off; to postpone to a future time; to delay the execution of; to delay; to withhold. [ 1913 Webster ]

Defer the spoil of the city until night. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

God . . . will not long defer
To vindicate the glory of his name. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To put off; to delay to act; to wait. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pius was able to defer and temporize at leisure. J. A. Symonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. déférer to pay deference, to yield, to bring before a judge, fr. L. deferre to bring down; de- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Defer to delay, Delate. ] 1. To render or offer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Worship deferred to the Virgin. Brevint. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer; -- with to. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hereupon the commissioners . . . deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To yield deference to the wishes of another; to submit to the opinion of another, or to authority; -- with to. [ 1913 Webster ]

The house, deferring to legal right, acquiesced. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. déférence. See 3d Defer. ] A yielding of judgment or preference from respect to the wishes or opinion of another; submission in opinion; regard; respect; complaisance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deference to the authority of thoughtful and sagacious men. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deference is the most complicate, the most indirect, and the most elegant of all compliments. Shenstone.

Syn. -- Deference, Reverence, Respect. Deference marks an inclination to yield one's opinion, and to acquiesce in the sentiments of another in preference to one's own. Respect marks the estimation that we have for another, which makes us look to him as worthy of high confidence for the qualities of his mind and heart. Reverence denotes a mingling of fear with a high degree of respect and esteem. Age, rank, dignity, and personal merit call for deference; respect should be paid to the wise and good; reverence is due to God, to the authors of our being, and to the sanctity of the laws. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. deferens, p. pr. of deferre. See 3d Defer. ] Serving to carry; bearing. [ R. ] “Bodies deferent.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which carries or conveys. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Ptolemaic Astron.) An imaginary circle surrounding the earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the center of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Deference. ] Expressing deference; accustomed to defer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With deference. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 1st Defer. ] The act of delaying; postponement. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

My grief, joined with the instant business,
Begs a deferment. Suckling. [ 1913 Webster ]