It's Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 28.
Today's word is deference, spelled D-E-F-E-R-E-N-C-E Deference is a noun.
It refers to respect and esteem that is appropriate to show someone such as a superior or elder.
Something done in deference to or out of deference to someone or something is done in order to show respect for the opinions or influence of that person or thing.
Here's the word used in a sentence from the Mojave Valley Daily News.
The new bridge over the Colorado River linking Bullhead City and Laughlin officially has a name.
It will be called Silver Copper Crossing.
The formal name was chosen in deference to the two states the bridge connects.
Nevada is the Silver State and Arizona is the Copper State.
As you might have guessed, the word deference is related to the verb defer,
meaning to delegate or to submit to another's wishes.
But we need to be specific when we tell you that both these words come from the medieval Latin verb deferre,
which means to convey, show respect, or submit to a decision,
because there are two dephers in the English language.
The defer related to deference is typically used with two,
in contexts having to do either with allowing someone else to decide or choose something,
as in I'll defer to the dictionary, or with agreeing to follow someone else's decision,
wish, etc., as when a court defers to precedent.
The other defer traces to the Latin verb deferre, meaning to carry away in varying directions,
spread abroad, postpone, delay, be unlike or distinct.