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Demur vs Flout - What's the difference?

demur | flout |

As verbs the difference between demur and flout

is that demur is to linger; to stay; to tarry while flout is to express contempt for the rules by word or action.

As nouns the difference between demur and flout

is that demur is stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple while flout is the act by which something is flouted.

demur

English

Verb

(demurr)
  • (obsolete) To linger; to stay; to tarry
  • * Nicols
    • Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp.
  • 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.
  • * Hayward
    • Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur .
  • To scruple or object; to take exception; to oppose; to balk
    • I demur to that statement.
    The personnel demurred at the management's new scheme.
  • (legal) To interpose a demurrer.
  • (obsolete) To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about
    • The latter I demur , for in their looks / Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. -
  • (obsolete) To cause delay to; to put off
  • * Quarles
    • He demands a fee, / And then demurs me with a vain delay.

    Related terms

    * demurrage * demurrer

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple.
    • All my demurs but double his attacks; At last he whispers, ``Do; and we go snacks.'' -
  • * 2004 , (Richard Fortey), The Earth , Folio Society 2011, p. 132:
    • Most geologists today would accept such evidence without demur , but it was still ‘fringe’ science when du Toit was publishing.

    Derived terms

    * demureness

    References

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    flout

    English

    Verb

  • To express contempt for the rules by word or action.
  • * 2012 , The Economist, Sep 29th 2012 issue, Tax alchemy: Tech's avoidance
    • The manoeuvres of Microsoft and HP appear to comply with the letter of the regulations, even if they flout their spirit.
  • To scorn.
  • * Walton
    • Phillida flouts me.
  • * Byron
    • Three gaudy standards flout the pale blue sky.

    Usage notes

    * Do not confuse with flaunt.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act by which something is flouted.
  • * 2012 , John Flowerdew, Discourse in English Language Education (page 97)
    • A flout is when someone deliberately and ostentatiously contravenes a maxim.