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defer

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To defer is defined as to delay something until later or to give into someone else.

(verb)

An example of defer is when you tell the college to hold your place because you want to work for a year.
An example of defer is when you let your husband have his way.

See defer in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb, intransitive verb deferred, deferring

to put off to a future time; postpone; delay
to postpone the induction of (a person) into compulsory military service

Origin: ME differren < OFr differer: see differ

Related Forms:

deferrable adjective
deferrer noun

intransitive verb deferred, deferring

to give in to the wish or judgment of another, as in showing respect; yield with courtesy (to)

Origin: ME deferen < OFr deferer, to yield, pay deference to < L deferre, to bring down < de-, down + ferre, to bear

See defer in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb de·ferred, de·fer·ring, de·fers

verb, transitive

To put off; postpone.
To postpone the induction of (one eligible for the military draft).

verb, intransitive

To procrastinate.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English differren, to postpone, differ; see differ

Related Forms:

de·ferˈra·ble adjective

de·ferˈrer noun

verb de·ferred, de·fer·ring, de·fers

verb, intransitive

To submit to the opinion, wishes, or decision of another through respect or in recognition of his or her authority, knowledge, or judgment. See Synonyms at yield.

verb, transitive

To commit or entrust to another.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English deferen

Origin: , from Old French deferer

Origin: , from Latin dēferre, to carry away, refer to

Origin: : dē-, de-

Origin: + ferre, to carry; see bher-¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: