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What is "deferent"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Deferent

Deferent \Def"er*ent\, a. [L. deferens, p. pr. of deferre. See 3d Defer.] Serving to carry; bearing. [R.] ``Bodies deferent.''
--Bacon.

Deferent

Deferent \Def"er*ent\, n.

  1. That which carries or conveys.

    Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds.
    --Bacon.

  2. (Ptolemaic Astron.) An imaginary circle surrounding the earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the center of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
deferent

1620s, from French déférent (16c.), from Latin deferentem (nominative deferens), present participle of deferre "to carry down or away" (see defer (v.2)). Earlier in Middle English as a word in astronomy (early 15c.).

Wiktionary
deferent

a. 1 Showing deference. 2 (context obsolete English) Serving to carry; bearing. n. 1 (context obsolete English) That which carries or conveys. 2 (context obsolete Ptolemaic astronomy English) An imaginary circle surrounding the Earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the centre of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

WordNet
deferent

adj. showing deference [syn: deferential, regardful]

Usage examples of "deferent".

At least twice her speech had been insufficiently deferent, even omitting the respectful term "Master.

More than his high council and his guild minis ters had been fooled into believing they could intrigue as they pleased, masked in deferent manners and false honesty.

His effrontery showed flawless and deferent manners as he clasped her hand to escort her away.

It pleased him to see that Luet wasn't just a tagalong, that in fact she wasn't at all worshipful or deferent, beyond the normal courtesy of friendship.

It pleased him to see that Luet wasn’t just a tagalong, that in fact she wasn’t at all worshipful or deferent, beyond the normal courtesy of friendship.

I was deferent toward some, compliant to others, dissipated when necessary, clever but not too clever.

He had impressed me by the deferent but tender care with which he surrounded his father-in-law, an old man partially paralyzed, who sat beside him.

But I have heard it said that if the earth turns and all the planets, and the sun stands still, many phenomena are ex­plained, whereas Ptolemy had to invent epicycles and deferents and all sorts of other stupidities that do not exist on earth or in heaven.