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# deference

«deference» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **Polite respect shown to someone by accepting their…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (uncountable: deference)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Polite respect shown to someone by accepting their opinion or wishes, often because they are older, wiser or more important. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/deference/#m1)

2) (phrase) «In deference to» means out of respect for someone or something. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/deference/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In stories and history, deference shows who has power or respect: servants showed deference to lords, and pupils may show deference to a head teacher. In everyday life it is about politeness, such as letting an elder speak first. Phrases: «out of deference to», «in deference to her wishes», «treat with deference».

### examples

- Nonetheless, English translators have usually shied away from the this-worldly symbolism of the ‘Holy Wind’, much preferring immaterial ‘Spirit’ either out of theological embarrassment or deference to tradition. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/deference/#x1)
- The children spoke to the old chief with great deference. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/deference/#x2)
- In deference to Gran, we turned the music down. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/deference/#x3)
- He nodded with deference when the judge spoke. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/deference/#x4)
- The flags were lowered in deference to those who had died. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/deference/#x5)
- She treats her coach with deference. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/deference/#x6)
- Out of deference to the teacher, the class stood up when she came in. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/deference/#x7)
- When he saw that I observed him he saluted me with great deference. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/deference/#x8)

### note

Uncountable: no «a» and no plural. Verb: defer (to defer to someone means to accept their view). Trap: not the same as «difference», though they sound a little alike. Formal word.

### Trees and pragmatics

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