defer

• IPA^(key): /dɪˈfɜː(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)

From Old French differer, from Latin differre.

defer (third-person singular simple present defers, present participle deferring, simple past and past participle deferred)

1. (transitive) To delay or postpone; especially to postpone induction into military service.
   • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare

     Defer the spoil of the city until night.

   • 1818, Mary Shelley, chapter 3, in Frankenstein‎:

     My departure for Ingolstadt, which had been deferred by these events, was now again determined upon.

2. (American football) After winning the opening coin toss, to postpone until the start of the second half a team's choice of whether to kick off or receive (and to allow the opposing team to make this choice at the start of the first half).
3. (intransitive) To delay, to wait.
   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     God […] will not long defer / To vindicate the glory of his name.

• deferral
• deferment

• differ

• From Middle French deferer, from Latin deferre.

defer (third-person singular simple present defers, present participle deferring, simple past and past participle deferred)

1. (law, intransitive) To submit to the opinion or desire of another in respect to their judgment or authority.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Francis Bacon

     Hereupon the commissioners […] deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland.

   • 1902, Joseph Conrad, chapter II, in Heart of Darkness:

     "Well, I must defer to your judgment. You are captain," he said with marked civility.

2. To render, to offer.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Brevint

     worship deferred to the Virgin

• deference

• freed, refed

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈdeː.fer/, [ˈdeː.fɛr]

dēfer

1. second-person singular present active imperative of dēferō