defer

Definition

To delay or postpone.

Etymology

Originally a variant of (and hence a doublet of) differ; from Middle English differren (“to postpone”), from Old French differer, from Latin differō. Doublet of differ and dilate. See also infer, collate and confer, delate and defer, relate and refer as well as prelate and prefer among others.

Example Sentences

• "We're going to defer the decision until we have all the facts."
• "Deferre the ſpoile of the Citie vntill night:"
• "My journey to Ingolstadt, which had been deferred by these events, was now again determined upon."

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