different between demur vs demurral

English

Etymology

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

See alternative etymology in the Anglo-Norman ancestor.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: d?mûr?, IPA^(key): /d??m??/
• (General American) enPR: d?mûr?, IPA^(key): /d??m?/
• Rhymes: -??(?)

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
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.
   • 1630, John Hayward, The Life and Raigne of King Edward the Sixth

     Vpon this rubbe the English Embassadors thought fit to demurre

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

4. (intransitive, law) To interpose a demurrer.
5. (transitive, obsolete) To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about
6. (transitive, obsolete) To cause delay to; to put off
   • 1634, Francis Quarles, Emblems

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

Related terms

• demurrage
• demurral
• demurrer

Translations

Noun

demur (plural demurs)

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

Translations

References

Anagrams

• MUDer, mured

Latin

Verb

d?mur

1. first-person plural present passive subjunctive of d?

English

Etymology

demur +? -al

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /d??m??l/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /d??m????l/
• Rhymes: -????l

Noun

demurral (countable and uncountable, plural demurrals)

1. The act of demurring.
2. (law) A formal objection.

Synonyms

• (act of demurring: suspending proceedings): hiatus, moratorium, recess; see also Thesaurus:pause
• (act of demurring: putting off): deferral, procrastination; see also Thesaurus:deferment