The word "demurred" is spelled as dɪˈmɜːd. The "d" at the beginning is pronounced as a voiced dental plosive, followed by a short i sound as in "sit". The "m" is pronounced as a voiced bilabial nasal, followed by a schwa sound in the middle. The final syllable is pronounced with an R sound followed by the vowel sound ɜː as in "bird". The spelling of this word can be confusing due to the silent "e" in the middle and the unusual use of the letter "u" after the "m".
Demurred is a verb that refers to the act of hesitating, objecting, or raising an objection to something. It is often used when a person disagrees with a proposal, suggestion, or a statement, and expresses their reluctance to comply or support it. When someone demurs, they typically express their hesitation or objection in a polite and respectful manner.
The term is commonly employed in formal discussions, legal contexts, or important decision-making processes. It implies a form of dissent where an individual respectfully disagrees or voices concern, rather than outrightly opposing or rejecting a proposition. Demurring often involves careful consideration and weighing of differing viewpoints before a final decision or agreement is made.
An example of demurring in a legal context might occur during a court trial when a lawyer objects to a question being asked by the opposing counsel. The lawyer might say, "Your Honor, I must respectfully demur to this question as it is irrelevant to the case at hand." In this instance, the lawyer is expressing their objection due to the question being unrelated to the matter being considered.
In summary, to demur is to express a hesitation, objection, or disagreement in a respectful manner. It is a term frequently used to indicate the act of raising an objection during discussions, with the intent of initiating further deliberation or to express differing views.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "demurred" comes from the Old French verb "demourer", meaning "to delay, hinder, or stay". It ultimately derives from the Latin word "demorari", which has a similar meaning of "to linger or delay". The word "demurred" has been in use in English since the 15th century and originally referred to a legal term meaning "to object or raise an objection". Over time, its usage expanded to include any expression of hesitation, reluctance, or dissent.