¹demur

verb de·mur \di-ˈmər\

: to disagree politely with another person's statement or suggestion

: to politely refuse to accept a request or suggestion

de·murredde·mur·ring

Full Definition of DEMUR

intransitive verb

archaic : delay, hesitate

: to file a demurrer

: to take exception : object —often used with to or at

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Origin of DEMUR

Middle English demuren, demeren to linger, from Anglo-French demurer, demoerer, from Latin demorari, from de- + morari to linger, from mora delay — more at mora

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DEMUR

Synonyms: object, except, expostulate, kick, protest, remonstrate

Rhymes with DEMUR

as per, astir, auteur, aver, bestir, Big Sur, Bonheur, chasseur, chauffeur, claqueur, coiffeur, concur, confer, Crèvecoeur, danseur, defer, deter, douceur, du jour, farceur, flaneur, frondeur, hauteur, him/her, his/her, incur, infer, inter, jongleur, larkspur, liqueur, longspur, masseur, millefleur, occur, Pasteur, poseur, prefer, recur, refer, sandbur, sandspur, seigneur, transfer, voyeur, white fir

²demur

noun

: an act of disagreeing about something

Full Definition of DEMUR

: hesitation (as in doing or accepting) usually based on doubt of the acceptability of something offered or proposed

: the act or an instance of objecting : protest

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First Known Use of DEMUR

13th century

Related to DEMUR

Synonyms: challenge, complaint, objection, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, fuss, kick, protest, question, remonstrance, stink

Synonym Discussion of DEMUR

qualm, scruple, compunction, demur mean a misgiving about what one is doing or going to do. qualm implies an uneasy fear that one is not following one's conscience or better judgment <no qualms about plagiarizing>. scruple implies doubt of the rightness of an act on grounds of principle <no scruples against buying stolen goods>. compunction implies a spontaneous feeling of responsibility or compassion for a potential victim <had compunctions about lying>. demur implies hesitation caused by objection to an outside suggestion or influence <accepted her decision without demur>.