Both Uses of
defer
in
The Great Gatsby
- So Tom Buchanan and his girl and I went up together to New York — or not quite together, for Mrs. Wilson sat discreetly in another car. Tom deferred that much to the sensibilities of those East Eggers who might be on the train.
p. 26..9 (definition 1) *deferred = submitted or yielded
- I told him that all arrangements had been deferred until he came.
p. 168..3 (definition 2) *deferred = delayed
Definitions:
-
(1) (defer as in: deferred to her wishes) submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
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(2) (defer as in: deferred the decision) delay or postpone (hold off until a later time)