Etymology Originally a variant of (and hence a doublet of) differ; from Middle English differren (“to postpone”), from Old French differer, from Latin differō. Doublet of differ and dilate. See also infer, collate and confer, delate and defer, relate and refer as well as prelate and prefer among others.
1
To delay or postpone.
We're going to defer the decision until we have all the facts.
Deferre the ſpoile of the Citie vntill night:1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii], page 141, column 2:
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My journey to Ingolstadt, which had been deferred by these events, was now again determined upon.1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter II, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume I, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 65:
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Common, Especially to postpone induction into military service.
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American football, Ball games, Football, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports After winning the opening coin toss, to postpone until the start of the second half a team's choice of whether to kick off or receive (and to allow the opposing team to make this choice at the start of the first half).
4
To delay, to wait.
God […] will not long defer / To vindicate the glory of his name1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 34, lines 474–476:
Etymology From late Middle English differren (“to refer for judgement”), from Middle French déférer, from Latin dēferō. Doublet of delate. See also infer, collate and confer, relate and refer, as well as prelate and prefer among others.
1
Ambitransitive To submit to the opinion or desire of others in respect to their judgment or authority.
Hereupon the commissioners […] deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland.1622, Francis Bacon, History of the Reign of King Henry VII:
"Defer/Defer/To the Lord High Executioner."1885, W.S. Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan, The Mikado:
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"Well, I must defer to your judgment. You are captain," he said with marked civility.1899 March, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number MI, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part II:
2
To render, to offer.
worship deferred to the Virgin1872, Daniel Brevint, Saul and Samuel at Endor: