demurral

English

Etymology

From demur +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /dɪˈmɝəl/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /dɪˈmɜːɹəl/
• Rhymes: -ɜːɹəl

Noun

demurral (countable and uncountable, plural demurrals)

1. The act of demurring.
   • 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, chapter 17, in The Line of Beauty […], 1st US edition, New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN:

     Her steady tone, her emphasizing twitches, were new to Nick; they seemed to signal a change in their relations that wouldn't easily be reversed. He was used to her easy assents, her oddly contented demurrals […]

2. (law) A formal objection.

Synonyms

• (act of demurring: suspending proceedings): hiatus, moratorium, recess; see also Thesaurus:pause
• (act of demurring: putting off): deferral, procrastination; see also Thesaurus:deferment