Deferent

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Deferent \Def"er*ent\, a. [L. deferens, p. pr. of deferre. See
     3d {Defer}.]
     Serving to carry; bearing. [R.] "Bodies deferent." --Bacon.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Deferent \Def"er*ent\, n.
     1. That which carries or conveys.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds.
                                                    --Bacon.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Ptolemaic Astron.) 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.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  deferent
       adj : showing deference [syn: {deferential}, {regardful}]