demur
dih-MUR
/dɪˈmɜːr/
To raise doubts or objections; to show reluctance or hesitate.
Suggests a quiet, polite, or hesitant objection rather than a loud or aggressive protest.
The story behind the word. Demur comes from the Latin demorari, meaning 'to linger or delay.' It passed through Old French as demorer (to delay, remain), eventually entering English as a legal term for filing a plea that stops an action to wait for a judge's ruling.
Word relationships
- hesitate: Hesitate is due to uncertainty; demur is a hesitation based on moral or logical objection.
- object: Object is more direct and can be aggressive, while demur is softer and more tentative.
- acquiesce: Acquiesce means to accept something reluctantly but without protest.
- consent: Consent means to give permission or agreement.
Commonly confused with
- demure: Demure is an adjective meaning modest, shy, or reserved (typically describing a young woman), whereas demur is a verb meaning to object.
Word family
- demurral (noun): The act of objecting or demurring.
Collocations
- demur at
- without demur
- politely demur
Idioms & expressions
- drag one's feet
Example sentences
- "When offered a second helping of the expensive dessert, she demurred out of politeness." Polite hesitation in a social setting.
- "The defense counsel chose to demur to the prosecution's pleading, arguing it lacked legal grounds." Legal objection.
Memory hook
Demur sounds like 'delaying because you are unsure.' You demur when you want to pause and object. Hesitate and object.
When not to use
Do not use for violent protests or angry, shouting matches.
Fun facts
- In legal terminology, a 'demurrer' is a pleading that says, 'Even if everything my opponent says is true, it still doesn't constitute a legal case.'
Related words
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