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# defer

verb (defer, defers, deferred, deferring)

«defer» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) To put off something until later; to delay: the meeting was deferred until next week. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defer/#m1)
2. (formal) Defer to: to accept someone else's opinion or decision because you respect them or they know more: I defer to your experience. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defer/#m2)

### In the lessons

A formal word of letters, school notices and exam language. In everyday talk people say "put off" or "postpone". Phrases: defer to, deferred payment, defer a decision.

### Examples

- (formal) The trip has been deferred because of the snow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defer/#x1)
- The decision was deferred until all the parents had replied. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defer/#x2)
- On matters of football, I defer to my brother. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defer/#x3)
- (formal) Payment may be deferred until the end of the month. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defer/#x4)
- She deferred her university place for a year. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defer/#x5)
- (formal) Subsequently, the match was deferred to the following Saturday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defer/#x6)
- As the hunchback was one of the Sultan's private jesters, the chief of police resolved to defer sentence of death until he had consulted his master. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defer/#x7)

### Note

Double r in the past: deferred, deferring. Stress on the second syllable: de-FER. Nouns: deferral (delay), deference (respect). Same as "postpone" in the first meaning.

## In Jewish tradition

Here it means to delay. In Proverbs and Isaiah it also means to put off, as hope put off or anger held back.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads Ecclesiastes as teaching that a vow to God must be paid quickly. Isaiah's God holding back anger is read as His patience and mercy.

### Examples

- And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter. (Torah GEN.34.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x1)
- Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Writings PRO.13.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x2)
- When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou vowest. (Writings ECC.5.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x3)
- For My name's sake will I defer Mine anger, and for My praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. (Prophets ISA.48.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x4)

### Note

Double r in the past: deferred, deferring. Stress on the second syllable: de-FER. Nouns: deferral (delay), deference (respect). Same as "postpone" in the first meaning.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «defer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«defer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/defer.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «defer» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«defer» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/defer.html) on Mova free.