Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “demur” come from?

Demur comes from Old French demorer, from Latin demoro meaning to delay, formed from de- and mora meaning delay or hindrance, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)mer- meaning to hinder.

demur (English): To linger; to stay; to tarry; To delay; to pause;...

Definitions

  1. To linger; to stay; to tarry; To delay; to pause;...

Ancestry of “demur”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdemure—
2Old Frenchdemore—
3Old Frenchdemorerto stay; to remain
4Latindēmorō—
5LatindemoriorI die; I depart
6Latindē-—
7Latindē—
8Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
9Latinposteablative singular of postis
10Proto-Italicposti—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “demur”

  • demurring
  • demurral
  • demurrable
  • demurringly
  • demurreth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →