demur
pronunciation
How to pronounce demur in British English:
UK [dɪˈmɜː(r)]
How to pronounce demur in American English:
US [dɪˈmɜːr]
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- Noun:
- (law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings
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- Verb:
- take exception to
- enter a demurrer
Word Origin
- demur
- demur: [13] Like its French cousin demeurer, demur originally meant ‘stay, linger’. It was not until the 17th century that the current sense, ‘raise objections’, developed, via earlier ‘delay’ and ‘hesitate in uncertainty’. The word comes via Old French demorer and Vulgar Latin *dēmorāre from Latin dēmorārī, a compound verb formed from the intensive prefix dē- and morārī ‘delay’ (source also of English moratorium [19]).=> demure, moratorium
- demur (v.)
- c. 1200, "to linger, tarry, delay," from Old French demorer "delay, retard," from Latin demorari "to linger, loiter, tarry," from de- (see de-) + morari "to delay," from mora "a pause, delay" (see moratorium). Main modern sense of "raise objections" is first attested 1630s. Related: Demurred; demurring.
Example
- 1. Today 's young accept this with little demur .
- 2. If even a few nations demur or cheat , the whole system can break down .
- 3. He extends his hand but I demur , telling him I have a bad cold .
- 4. For instance , if a chinese hostess is praised for a dish , she will demur , and perhaps say that it is not difficult to make at all .
- 5. Messrs neumark and wascher still demur .