From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Demur \De*mur"\, verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Demurred}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Demurring}.] [OF. demurer, demorer, demourer, to linger, stay, F. demeurer, fr. L. demorari; de- + morari to delay, tarry, stay, mora delay; prob. originally, time for thinking, reflection, and akin to memor mindful. See {Memory}.]
1. To linger; to stay; to tarry. [Obs.]
Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp. --Nicols.
2. To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair.
Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur. --Hayward.
3. To scruple or object; to take exception; as, I demur to that statement.
4. (Law) To interpose a demurrer. See {Demurrer}, 2.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: (law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings [syn: {demurral}, {demurrer}]
verb
1: take exception to; "he demurred at my suggestion to work on Saturday" [syn: {except}]
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