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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Defer, v.¹ Also: defere, -ferr, deffer; defar. [ME. deferre (Wyclif), defar(re, variant of differre, Differ v.¹]

1. tr. To delay or postpone (action). a1400 Leg. S. vi. 354.
He that liffand it [sc. alms-giving] deferris, Is lyk a man that merknes merryse 1456 Hay II. 85/12.
To … dissymul and defer injure quhill ane othir tyme Ib. 146/27.
Ane othir maner of justice … that is deferrit quhill the uterest terme c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 5/27.
As thow has deferrit thi pennance lang tym befor, sa will thow ȝit 1533 Bell. Livy II. 94/7.
The wraith and ire of Romanis aganis the Veanis war defferrit to the nixt ȝere 1535 Stewart 23797.
My counsall is … Till better tyme this mater to defar 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 720/1.
Throu the quhilk enforsing the servyng of the saidis brevis wes deferrit a1578 Pitsc. I. 101/7.
He … deferit his purpois quhill the spring of the ȝeir Ib. II. 175/23.
The ansuer thairof was defferit

2. To delay or hinder (a person) in some respect. Also refl., to make delay. a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 171.
Hely, defere thé nocht fra me, Bot in myn helpe nov haste thu thé Ib. xlvii. 37.
[Quhy] me deferris [thou] for to wyne The ioy that my delyt is in? 1518 Fife Sheriff Ct. 108.
The said Iames protestyt … because that he … was postponit & deferryt thairfra be the said lady a1568 Bann. MS. 144 b/29.
Is nane so wyis can him defar, Quhen he proponis furth ane ple

3. intr. To make delay; to put off. 1482 Acta Aud. 97/2.
Becaus he deferris to geif oure and deliuer the saide landis fra him c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 61/18.
Ane persone suld nocht be lathand to torne to God his creatour na defer fra day to day 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 324/1.
Gif the said George lyis out and deferris to enter to the saidis landis 1535 Stewart 61018.
And for that caus ouir lang he did defar 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4578.
Ȝe ar the war, To lat ȝow blude sa lang that ȝe defar