---
title: defer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «defer» in the school dictionary: To put off something until later; to delay: the meeting was deferred until next week. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# defer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, opinion, someone, I, your, parents · **What happens:** put off, delay, defer, accept, respect, know · **To what, where:** something, meeting, opinion, more, formal trip, decision

<!-- .vabout -->
«defer» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [defer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/defer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To put off something until later; to delay: the meeting was deferred until next week.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defer:m1:1
# text = To put off something until later; to delay: the meeting was deferred until next week.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	off	off	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
5	until	until	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	delay	delay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	deferred	defer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
15	until	until	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put off** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent something=Goal |
| 2 | **delay** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **defer** | past · passive |  | the meeting |  |  | week |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: subject=Source |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Defer to: to accept someone else's opinion or decision because you respect them or they know more.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defer:m2:1
# text = Defer to: to accept someone else's opinion or decision because you respect them or they know more.
1	Defer	defer	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	accept	accept	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nmod:poss	_	_
7	else	else	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
9	opinion	opinion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	respect	respect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
19	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defer** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn acquiesce-95.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **accept** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | someone's opinion or decision |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent opinion=Theme |
| 3 | **respect** | present | you | opinion |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer they=Stimulus |
| 4 | **know** | present | opinion | more |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer more=Stimulus |
| 5 | **opine** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom opinion «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I defer to your experience.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defer:m2e:1
# text = I defer to your experience.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	defer	defer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	experience	experience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defer** | present | I |  |  |  |  | to your experience | vn acquiesce-95.1 «NP V PP.pivot»: agent=Agent to experience=Pivot |
| 2 | **experience** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom experience «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The trip has been deferred because of the snow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defer:x1:1
# text = (formal) The trip has been deferred because of the snow.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	deferred	defer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defer** | present · perfect · passive |  | the formal trip |  |  |  | because the snow | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: subject=Source |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The decision was deferred until all the parents had replied.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defer:x2:1
# text = The decision was deferred until all the parents had replied.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	deferred	defer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	replied	reply	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defer** | past · passive |  | the decision |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: subject=Source |
| 2 | **reply** *speech: assert* | past · perfect | all parents |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On matters of football, I defer to my brother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defer:x3:1
# text = On matters of football, I defer to my brother.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	matters	matter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	defer	defer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defer** | present | I |  |  | matters of football |  | to my brother | vn acquiesce-95.1 «NP V PP.pivot»: agent=Agent to brother=Pivot |
| 2 | **matter** |  | football |  |  |  |  |  | nom matter «cognition intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) Payment may be deferred until the end of the month.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defer:x4:1
# text = (formal) Payment may be deferred until the end of the month.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Payment	payment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	deferred	defer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	until	until	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	month	month	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defer** | may · passive |  | formal Payment |  |  | until the end of the month |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: subject=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She deferred her university place for a year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defer:x5:1
# text = She deferred her university place for a year.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	deferred	defer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	university	university	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defer** | past | She | her university place |  |  | year |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent place=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) Subsequently, the match was deferred to the following Saturday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defer:x6:1
# text = (formal) Subsequently, the match was deferred to the following Saturday.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Subsequently	subsequently	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	deferred	defer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	amod	_	_
13	Saturday	Saturday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defer** | past · passive |  | the match |  |  | saturday |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: subject=Source |
| 2 | **follow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As the hunchback was one of the Sultan's private jesters, the chief of police resolved to defer sentence of death until he had consulted his master.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defer:x7:1
# text = As the hunchback was one of the Sultan's private jesters, the chief of police resolved to defer sentence of death until he had consulted his master.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	hunchback	hunchback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Sultan	Sultan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	jesters	jester	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	_
17	resolved	resolve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	defer	defer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	_
23	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	26	mark	_	_
24	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	nsubj	_	_
25	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	26	aux	_	_
26	consulted	consult	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	19	advcl	_	_
27	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	28	nmod:poss	_	_
28	master	master	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past |  | one and the chief of police |  |  |  | as the hunchback; of the Sultan's private jesters | tree rules |
| 2 | **resolve** | participle |  | police *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **defer** | to-infinitive |  | sentence of death |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent sentence=Source |
| 4 | **consult** | past · perfect | he | his master |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent master=Theme |
| 5 | **sentence** |  |  | death |  |  |  |  | nom sentence «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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