De*mur", n. [OF. demor,
demore, stay, delay. See Demur, v.
i.] Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense
of decision or action; scruple.
All my demurs but double his attacks;
At last he whispers, "Do; and we go snacks."
Pope.De*mur", v. t. 1.
To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate
about. [Obs.]
The latter I demur, for in their looks
Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears.
Milton.
2. To cause delay to; to put off.
[Obs.]
He demands a fee,
And then demurs me with a vain delay.
Quarles.De*mur" (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Demurred (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Demurring.] [OF. demurer, demorer,
demourer, to linger, stay, F. demeurer, fr. L.
demorari; de- + morari to delay, tarry, stay,
mora delay; prob. originally, time for thinking, reflection,
and akin to memor mindful. See Memory.]
1. To linger; to stay; to tarry.
[Obs.]
Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the
camp.
Nicols.
2. To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings
or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off
the determination or conclusion of an affair.
Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to
demur.
Hayward.
3. To scruple or object; to take exception;
as, I demur to that statement.
4. (Law) To interpose a demurrer. See
Demurrer, 2.