The Collaborative International Dictionary
Demur \De*mur"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Demurred; p. pr. & vb. n. Demurring.] [OF. demurer, demorer, demourer, to linger, stay, F. demeurer, fr. L. demorari; de- + morari to delay, tarry, stay, mora delay; prob. originally, time for thinking, reflection, and akin to memor mindful. See Memory.]
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To linger; to stay; to tarry. [Obs.]
Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp.
--Nicols. -
To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair.
Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur.
--Hayward. To scruple or object; to take exception; as, I demur to that statement.
(Law) To interpose a demurrer. See Demurrer, 2.
Wiktionary
n. demurral vb. (present participle of demur English)
WordNet
See demur
Usage examples of "demurring".
Others hang off - when coming to the post Is spurring time, and then he’ll spare the most: While some demurring, wait, and find at last The bidding languish, and the market past.
Louise had expressed doubt when Melanie had told her that she intended to tackle the wilderness that was the garden by herself, demurring that she felt that Melanie ought to ask around to see if there wasn't someone in the village who could give her some help "The lawn will have to be scythed," she had warned Melanie, 'and that's no job for an amateur.
I have been demurring while publishers have been eager for my material, as the editors at Avon, Berkley and Tor can confirm.
Honesty was one of the things he loved about heL No demurrings or prevarications.
Too suddenly, it had seemed, after earlier demurrings, he had brought me to the wall.
Too suddenly, it bad seemed, after earlier demurrings, he had brought me to the wall.