/demur-definition

/demur/

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: dɪmɜː(r). 

-) Etymology: from French demeurer (to linger), from Latin demorari (to tarry), from de- + morari (to delay, tarry, stay). The Italian dimorare and the Spanish demorare are from the same origin.

-) Preterite tense: demurred.  

-) Preterite participle: demurred.

-) Present participle: demurring.

-) Intransitively: -) 1. Obsolete and pristine values: -) a. To linger, tarry. -) b. To remain, stay.

-) 2. To make a scruple; to be reluctant because of a scruple or objection.

-) Translation: hésiter, in French; escrupulizar, in Spanish; esitare, in Italian.

… when she commanded them all to climb, it was David who demurred.

Margaret Deland… The Iron Woman… 1911

Sunday it was, and Val had insisted stubbornly upon going back to the ranch; somewhat to her surprise […] Arline Hawley no longer demurred, but put up lunch enough for a week almost, and announced that she was going along.

B. Bower… Lonesome Land… 1912

-) With the preposition “at” + a noun or gerund; or with “to” (rarely “on”) + noun:

… if ever I demurred to any of her demands, oaths, tears, and fits were the immediate consequences.

Fielding… Joseph Andrews… 1742

In the whole narrative I saw nothing anywhere to which I demurred. I admired it all, went with it all, and was proud of my friend's having written it all.

Dickens… The Letters of Charles Dickens… 1833-1870

Yet she demurred at the idea of being thus rendered responsible for his conduct.

Agnes Strickland… Queens of England… 1840-1849

Lady Carbery insisted upon calling me her "Admirable Crichton;" and it was in vain that I demurred to this honorary title…

De Quincey… Sketches… 1863

He made the citizens of Cajarc contribute to the expense of this proceeding, and even required them to send masons to assist him in the work; but as they were loyal subjects of the French King they demurred at this, and he substituted additional money payment for personal service.

Sabine Baring-Gould… Castles… 1911

He always sat there when he smoked; Susan Adkins demurred at his smoking in the house, which she kept so nice.

Freeman… The Copy-Cat… 1914

-) 3. Obsolete: to hesitate.

At last she opened the book, and, to her great astonishment, beheld the letter. She started—looked at it—it was addressed to her. She demurred at first whether she should open it.

Marryat… The Poacher… 1841

-) 4. To interpose a demurrer; to respond with a demurrer.

-) Transitively: -) 1. Obsolete: to cause to tarry, delay.

-) 2. Archaic and rare: to object to.

-) Words derived from the verb “demur”: demurrable, demurrage, demurrant, demurrer, demurring, demurringly.