Defer \De*fer"\, v. i. To yield deference to the wishes of another; to submit to the opinion of another, or to authority; -- with to.

The house, deferring to legal right, acquiesced. --Bancroft.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Defer \De*fer"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Deferring.]

[OE. differren, F. diff['e]rer, fr. L. differre to delay, bear different ways; dis- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Differ, Defer to offer.]

To put off; to postpone to a future time; to delay the execution of; to delay; to withhold.

Defer the spoil of the city until night. --Shak.

God . . . will not long defer To vindicate the glory of his name. --Milton.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Defer \De*fer"\, v. i. To put off; to delay to act; to wait.

Pius was able to defer and temporize at leisure. --J. A. Symonds.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Defer \De*fer"\, v. t. [F. d['e]f['e]rer to pay deference, to yield, to bring before a judge, fr. L. deferre to bring down; de- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Defer to delay, Delate.]

1. To render or offer. [Obs.]

Worship deferred to the Virgin. --Brevint.

2. To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer; -- with to.

Hereupon the commissioners . . . deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland. --Bacon.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)