First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1demur
verb de·mur \di-ˈmər\
: to disagree politely with another person's statement or suggestion
: to politely refuse to accept a request or suggestion
de·murredde·mur·ring
Full Definition of DEMUR
intransitive verb
2
: to file a demurrer
3
: to take exception : object —often used with to or at
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Origin of DEMUR
Middle English demuren, demeren to linger, from Anglo-French demurer, demoerer, from Latin demorari, from de- + morari to linger, from mora delay — more at mora
Related to DEMUR
- Synonyms
- object, except, expostulate, kick, protest, remonstrate
Rhymes with DEMUR
as per, astir, auteur, aver, bestir, Big Sur, Bonheur, chasseur, chauffeur, claqueur, coiffeur, concur, confer, Crèvecoeur, danseur, defer, deter, douceur, du jour, farceur, flaneur, frondeur, hauteur, him/her, his/her, incur, infer, inter, jongleur, larkspur, liqueur, longspur, masseur, millefleur, occur, Pasteur, poseur, prefer, recur, refer, sandbur, sandspur, seigneur, transfer, voyeur, white fir
2demur
noun
: an act of disagreeing about something
Full Definition of DEMUR
1
: hesitation (as in doing or accepting) usually based on doubt of the acceptability of something offered or proposed
2
: the act or an instance of objecting : protest
See demur defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DEMUR
13th century
Related to DEMUR
- Synonyms
- challenge, complaint, objection, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, fuss, kick, protest, question, remonstrance, stink
Synonym Discussion of DEMUR
qualm, scruple, compunction, demur mean a misgiving about what one is doing or going to do. qualm implies an uneasy fear that one is not following one's conscience or better judgment <no qualms about plagiarizing>. scruple implies doubt of the rightness of an act on grounds of principle <no scruples against buying stolen goods>. compunction implies a spontaneous feeling of responsibility or compassion for a potential victim <had compunctions about lying>. demur implies hesitation caused by objection to an outside suggestion or influence <accepted her decision without demur>.
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