[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/defer.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/) / defer

[← D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/D/)

# defer

«defer» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **To put off something until later; to delay: the meeting…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 3 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (defer, defers, deferred, deferring)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (formal) To put off something until later; to delay: the meeting was deferred until next week. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#m1)

2) (formal) Defer to: to accept someone else's opinion or decision because you respect them or they know more: I defer to your experience. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: Here it means to delay. In Proverbs and Isaiah it also means to put off, as hope put off or anger held back. Interpretation: Tradition reads Ecclesiastes as teaching that a vow to God must be paid quickly. Isaiah's God holding back anger is read as His patience and mercy. In the primary lessons: A formal word of letters, school notices and exam language. In everyday talk people say "put off" or "postpone". Phrases: defer to, deferred payment, defer a decision.

### examples

- And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter. (Torah GEN.34.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x1)
- Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Writings PRO.13.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x2)
- When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou vowest. (Writings ECC.5.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x3)
- For My name's sake will I defer Mine anger, and for My praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. (Prophets ISA.48.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x4)
- (formal) The trip has been deferred because of the snow. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x5)
- The decision was deferred until all the parents had replied. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x6)
- On matters of football, I defer to my brother. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x7)
- (formal) Payment may be deferred until the end of the month. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x8)
- She deferred her university place for a year. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x9)
- (formal) Subsequently, the match was deferred to the following Saturday. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x10)
- 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. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/#x11)

### note

Double r in the past: deferred, deferring. Stress on the second syllable: de-FER. Nouns: deferral (delay), deference (respect). Same as "postpone" in the first meaning.

### In the corpora

- [And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1074/)
- [Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PRO.361/)
- ["Deferred success" is a joking UK phrase for failure.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/17-school-and-pets/9/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «defer» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defer/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.