deferent

¹

[ def-er-uhnt ]

adjective

1. marked by or showing deference:

   She was always deferent to her elders.

deferent

²

[ def-er-uhnt ]

adjective

, Anatomy.

1. conveying away; efferent.
2. of or relating to the vas deferens.

noun

1. Astronomy. (in the Ptolemaic system) the circle around the earth in which a celestial body or the center of the epicycle of its orbit was thought to move.

deferent

¹

/ ˈdɛfərənt /

adjective

1. another word for deferential

deferent

²

/ ˈdɛfərənt /

adjective

1. (esp of a bodily nerve, vessel, or duct) conveying an impulse, fluid, etc, outwards, down, or away; efferent

noun

1. astronomy (in the Ptolemaic system) a circle centred on the earth around which the centre of the epicycle was thought to move

Word History and Origins

Origin of deferent¹

First recorded in 1815–25; defer ² + -ent

Origin of deferent²

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin dēferent- (stem of dēferēns ), present participle of dēferre. See defer ², -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of deferent¹

C17: from Latin dēferre ; see defer ²

Example Sentences

The eighth sphere had neither deferent nor epicycle but to it were attached the fixed stars.

From Project Gutenberg

Corresponding to each planet there was supposed to be a circle called a deferent, which had the earth as its centre.

From Project Gutenberg

The moon moves on an epicycle centred on a second epicycle, itself centred on a deferent, excentric to the earth.

From Project Gutenberg

The man's tone was so earnest, and there was so deferent a look in his eyes, that the Princess recovered some of her courage.

From Project Gutenberg

Mealy Benoît had paid his score already, and Hogshead Geoffroy's deferent escort of friends was getting restless.

From Project Gutenberg