I fear I must demur at your suggestion that I am aloof and condescending.
•Alice demurred at the suggestion that she was late.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
demur — vb Demur, scruple, balk, jib, shy, boggle, stick, stickle, strain are comparable when they mean to hesitate or show reluctance because of difficulties in the way. One demurs to or at something when one raises objections to it, casts doubt upon it … New Dictionary of Synonyms
demur — [[t]dɪmɜ͟ː(r)[/t]] demurs, demurring, demurred 1) VERB If you demur, you say that you do not agree with something or will not do something that you have been asked to do. [FORMAL] Hunt wanted to know, would I be prepared to take over the whole… … English dictionary
demur — I UK [dɪˈmɜː(r)] / US [dɪˈmɜr] verb [intransitive] Word forms demur : present tense I/you/we/they demur he/she/it demurs present participle demurring past tense demurred past participle demurred formal a) to refuse to do something b) to say that… … English dictionary
demur — de|mur1 [ dı mɜr ] verb intransitive FORMAL to refuse to do something a. to say you do not approve of something demur de|mur 2 [ dı mɜr ] noun uncount FORMAL refusal or disagreement: without demur: Both teams accepted the decision without demur … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
demur — I. intransitive verb (demurred; demurring) Etymology: Middle English demuren, demeren to linger, from Anglo French demurer, demoerer, from Latin demorari, from de + morari to linger, from mora delay more at mora Date: 13th century 1. archaic… … New Collegiate Dictionary
object — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. thing, item; goal, aim, purpose, objective. See substance, intention. v. i. disapprove, demur, challenge, protest, resist, kick. See disapprobation, dissent, unity. II (Roget s IV) n. 1. [A corporeal… … English dictionary for students
object — ob·ject 1 / äb jikt/ n 1: something toward which thought, feeling, or action is directed see also natural object 2: the purpose or goal of something; esp in the civil law of Louisiana: the purpose for which a contract or obligation is formed… … Law dictionary
qualm — qualm, scruple, compunction, demur can all denote a feeling of doubt or hesitation as to the rightness or wisdom of something one is doing or is about to do. Qualm implies an uneasy, often a sickening, sensation that one is not following the… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
challenge — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. query, question; controvert, dispute; dare, defy, stump. n. exception; invitation, dare. See defiance, doubt. II (Roget s IV) n. 1. [A demand] Syn. dare, summons, provocation, calling into question;… … English dictionary for students
protest — pro·test n 1: a solemn declaration of opinion and usu. of disagreement: as a: a solemn written declaration by a notary public or U.S. consul on behalf of the holder of an instrument (as a note) announcing dishonor and declaring the liability of… … Law dictionary
repudiate — re·pu·di·ate /ri pyü dē ˌāt/ vt at·ed, at·ing: to disavow or reject an obligation (as a debt) or duty (as performance under a contract); specif: to indicate an inability or unwillingness to perform as promised under (a contract) re·pu·di·a·tor /… … Law dictionary
