deferential

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   showing respectful submission to another person's authority, wishes, or judgment

   The junior diplomat remained deferential while firmly stating her concerns.

2. 2
   adj

   giving substantial weight to another authority's judgment or decision

   The appeals court applied a deferential standard when reviewing the agency's findings.

Formed from deference + -ial, after French deferentiel. Deference comes through French deferer from Latin deferre, 'to carry down, report, or refer.' Its English sense developed from referring a matter to another person and then yielding respectfully to that person's judgment.

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