小词详解 | demur

demur 英 [dɪˈmɜː(r)] 美 [dɪˈmɜːr]

• He even briefly considered running for political office, though ultimately demurred. Old habits die hard.
  他甚至一度考虑竞选公职，不过最终还是打了退堂鼓。本性难移啊。
  ——《经济学人》
• If I demur, I land in the chapter about how sad it is that our kids are so overstressed.
  如果我提出异议，我们就开始感叹，现在的孩子压力太大，真是可怜。
  ——《纽约时报》

• 特殊抗辩事由
  the special demurring reasons

• 她开始表示反对，但最终还是同意了。
  At first she demurred, but then finally agreed.
• 他对卷入这种可疑行为有顾忌。
  He demurred from being involved in such questionable practices.

• 毫无异议地接受批评
  accept the criticism without demur
• 她毫不犹豫地这样做了。
  She did so without demur.

After some delay and demur, the door grudgingly turned on its hinges a very little way, and allowed Mr. Jerry Cruncher to squeeze himself into court.
在一阵耽误和踌躇之后，那门很不情愿地开了一条缝，让杰瑞·克朗彻挤进了法庭。

• object: say something to express one's disapproval of or disagreement with something
• cavil: make petty or unnecessary objections
• dissent: hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially expressed