DEMUR (demurred, demurring)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: demurred    , demurring   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does demur mean? 

• DEMUR (noun)
  The noun DEMUR has 1 sense:

1. (law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings

  Familiarity information: DEMUR used as a noun is very rare.

• DEMUR (verb)
  The verb DEMUR has 2 senses:

1. take exception to

2. enter a demurrer

  Familiarity information: DEMUR used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEMUR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

demur; demurral; demurrer

Hypernyms ("demur" is a kind of...):

objection (the speech act of objecting)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

demur (take exception to)

• DEMUR (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they demur    ... he / she / it demurs   
Past simple: demurred   
Past participle: demurred   
-ing form: demurring   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Take exception to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

demur; except

Context example:

he demurred at my suggestion to work on Saturday

Hypernyms (to "demur" is one way to...):

object (express or raise an objection or protest or criticism or express dissent)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

demur ((law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings)

demurrer ((law) any pleading that attacks the legal sufficiency of the opponent's pleadings)

demurrer ((law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Enter a demurrer

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "demur" is one way to...):

plead (make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, especially answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

demurral ((law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings)

demurrer ((law) any pleading that attacks the legal sufficiency of the opponent's pleadings)

demurrer ((law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings)

 Context examples 

Cheese-Face wanted to demur,—Martin could see that,—but Cheese-Face's old perilous pride was touched before the two gangs.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I demurred as to my not sharing any danger even of odium, but he went on: Besides, it will attract less attention if there are not too many of us.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Your meaning must be unequivocal; no doubts or demurs: and such expressions of gratitude and concern for the pain you are inflicting as propriety requires, will present themselves unbidden to your mind, I am persuaded.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Here, however, the kindness of Mrs. Jennings interposed most acceptably; for to send the Colonel away while his love was in so much uneasiness on her sister's account, would be to deprive them both, she thought, of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once that his stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself, that she should want him to play at piquet of an evening, while Miss Dashwood was above with her sister, &c. she urged him so strongly to remain, that he, who was gratifying the first wish of his own heart by a compliance, could not long even affect to demur; especially as Mrs. Jennings's entreaty was warmly seconded by Mr. Palmer, who seemed to feel a relief to himself, in leaving behind him a person so well able to assist or advise Miss Dashwood in any emergence.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

A young doctor, named Verner, had purchased my small Kensington practice, and given with astonishingly little demur the highest price that I ventured to ask—an incident which only explained itself some years later, when I found that Verner was a distant relation of Holmes, and that it was my friend who had really found the money.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I told her I should ask you to see her, and though she demurred at first—I know why, old fellow—she finally consented.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Emma demurred.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)