Showing respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, or wishes of another person. It implies polite respect for authority or expertise.
From Latin 'deferre,' meaning 'to carry down' or 'to bring before' (de- 'down' + ferre 'to carry'). Originally described the act of bringing matters before a superior for judgment, evolving to describe the respectful attitude one shows when yielding to another's authority.
Think of 'defer' as offering to carry someone else's opinion instead of your own - you're being so respectful that you 'carry down' your own views to lift up theirs! It's like being a respectful butler who defers to the master's wishes.
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