defer

Etymology 1

Originally a variant of (and hence a doublet of) differ; from Middle English differren (“to postpone”), from Old French differer, from Latin differō.

verb

1. (transitive) To delay or postpone
   We're going to defer the decision until we have all the facts.
   1. (especially more common, historically) to postpone induction into military service.
2. (American football) After winning the opening coin toss, to postpone until the start of the second half a team's choice of whether to kick off or receive (and to allow the opposing team to make this choice at the start of the first half).
3. (intransitive) To delay, to wait.

Etymology 2

From late Middle English differren (“to refer for judgement”), from Middle French déférer, from Latin dēferō.

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To submit to the opinion or desire of others in respect to their judgment or authority.
   Hereupon the commissioners […] deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland. 1622, Francis Bacon, History of the Reign of King Henry VII
   Defer/Defer/To the Lord High Executioner. 1885, W.S. Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan, The Mikado
2. To render, to offer.
   worship deferred to the Virgin 1872, Daniel Brevint, Saul and Samuel at Endor