demur

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman demorer, from Old French demorer (French demeurer), from Vulgar Latin demoro, Latin demorari (“to tarry”), from de- + morari (“to delay”).^[1]

See alternative etymology in the Anglo-Norman ancestor.

Pronunciation

• (General American) enPR: dĭmûrʹ, IPA^(key): /dɪˈmɝ/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: dĭmûrʹ, IPA^(key): /dɪˈmɜː/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)

Distinguish from pronunciation of demure

Verb

demur (third-person singular simple present demurs, present participle demurring, simple past and past participle demurred)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To linger; to stay; to tarry
   • Nicols

     Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp.

2. (intransitive) To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair.
   • Hayward

     Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur.

3. (intransitive) To scruple or object; to take exception; to oppose; to balk

   I demur to that statement.

   The personnel demurred at the management's new scheme.

4. (intransitive, law) To interpose a demurrer.
5. (transitive, obsolete) To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about
   • John Milton

     The latter I demur, for in their looks / Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears.

6. (transitive, obsolete) To cause delay to; to put off
   • Quarles

     He demands a fee, / And then demurs me with a vain delay.

Noun

demur (plural demurs)

1. Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple.
   • Alexander Pope

     All my demurs but double his attacks; At last he whispers, “Do; and we go snacks.”

   • 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society 2011, p. 132:

     Most geologists today would accept such evidence without demur, but it was still ‘fringe’ science when du Toit was publishing.

References

Anagrams

• MUDer, mured

Verb

dēmur

1. first-person plural present passive subjunctive of dō