"a yielding in opinion, submission to the judgment of another," 1640s, from French déférence (16c.), from déférer "to yield, comply" (see defer (v.2)).
Entries linking to deference
defer v.2
"yield, offer, render," mid-15c., "leave to another's judgment or determination," from Old French deferer "to yield, comply" (14c., Modern French déférer), from Latin deferre "carry away, transfer, grant," from de "down, away" (see de-) + ferre "to carry," from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry." Sense of "refer (a matter) to someone" also was in the Latin verb. Related: Deferred; deferring.
deferential adj.
"respectful in manner, characterized by deference," 1822, from deference. As a word in anatomy, "conveying away or carrying off," 1877, from deferent (adj.) + -ial. Related: Deferentially.