DEFERENT

deferent, deferential, regardful

(adjective) showing deference

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

deferent (comparative more deferent, superlative most deferent)

Showing deference.

(obsolete) Serving to carry; bearing.

Noun

deferent (plural deferents)

(anatomy) A deferent duct in the body, as opposed to an afferent one.

(obsolete) That which carries or conveys.

(obsolete, Ptolemaic astronomy) An imaginary circle surrounding the Earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the centre of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

Source: Wiktionary


Def"er*ent, a. Etym: [L. deferens, p. pr. of deferre. See 3d Defer.]

Definition: Serving to carry; bearing. [R.] "Bodies deferent." Bacon.

Def"er*ent, n.

1. That which carries or conveys. Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds. Bacon.

2. (Ptolemaic Astron.)

Definition: An imaginary circle surrounding the earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the center of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

22 May 2025

BOLLARD

(noun) a strong post (as on a wharf or quay or ship for attaching mooring lines); “the road was closed to vehicular traffic with bollards”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

You can overdose on coffee if you drink about 30 cups in a brief period to get close to a lethal dosage of caffeine.

coffee icon