Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Submission or courteous respect given to another, often in recognition of authority. synonym: honor.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A yielding in opinion; submission to the opinion, judgment, or wish of another; hence, regard, respect, or submission in general: as, a blind deference to authority.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A yielding of judgment or preference from respect to the wishes or opinion of another; submission in opinion; regard; respect; complaisance.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Great
respect . - noun The
willingness tocarry out thewishes ofothers .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard
- noun courteous regard for people's feelings
- noun a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others
Etymologies
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Examples
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The first kind of deference is relatively uncontroversial, I suspect.
The Volokh Conspiracy » Does Dale Forbid the Solomon Amendment? 2004
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If they barred Jews from serving, that determination would be subject to substantial deference from the courts, and in any event might not prevent Congress from requiring military recruiters on campus.
The Volokh Conspiracy » Kagan, the Harvard Ban on Military Recruiters, and Anti-Military Bias 2010
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James, while I am profoundly humbled in deference to your working-man credentials, your little diatribe does not detract from the convincing legal statement of Mr. Copeland, who, unlike you, cites examples and precedents.
Government’s Case Against Resisters Faulty : Law is Cool 2009
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Barrymore trills, with a gentle hug in deference to Lange's broken collarbone and bruised ribs, sustained during a fall at her Minnesota cabin last month.
Lange, Barrymore like mother and daughter after 'Gardens' 2009
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Callahan, the young director of the department was the last to leave the tower, but when she bowed her head to Carl in deference, he lifted her chin and they gazed at each other, soiled faces, wild hair, and Carl handed Callahan back her shovel.
365 tomorrows » J.R. Blackwell : A New Free Flash Fiction SciFi Story Every Day 2010
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Bobby is clearly only an after thought … The meeting of Loons happening IN HIS OWN STATE and for all he knows, getting laughed off the stage … in deference to the Swag-Hag??
Think Progress » Jindal: ‘It Hurts Our Feelings’ To Be Called The ‘Party of No’ 2010
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They asked for US help for missile defense, and were told to shove it, in deference Russia.
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The civil war amendments provide examples where state power is curtailed but in deference to the people.
The Volokh Conspiracy » Why Recalls of U.S. Senators Are Unconstitutional 2010
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So I use the word savages with some hesitation, in deference to the people who may, somewhere, be still running around in loin cloths and eating raw meat, and who suffer by the comparison.
Jim Treacher has the Jean Schmidt voicemail. | RedState 2010
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In the case of the 17th amendment deference is also given to the people for election of Senators as the legislatures direct, but it does not preclude any specific avenue for creating vacancies.
The Volokh Conspiracy » Why Recalls of U.S. Senators Are Unconstitutional 2010
jwjarvis commented on the word deference
treated him without deference, although they said nothing offensive.
August 25, 2011