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Demur vs Deter - What's the difference?

demur | deter |

As verbs the difference between demur and deter

is that demur is (obsolete) to linger; to stay; to tarry while deter is to prevent something from happening.

As a noun demur

is stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple.

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.

    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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    deter

    English

    Verb

    (deterr)
  • To prevent something from happening.
  • To persuade someone not to do something; to discourage.
  • * 1748 . David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 10.
  • we have in following enquiry, attempted to throw some light upon subjects, from which uncertainty has hitherto deterred the wise

    Anagrams

    * ----