demurrer means A motion by a party to a legal action for the immediate or summary judgment of the court on the question of whether, assuming the truth of the matter alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the action or defense, and hence whether the party bringing the motion is required to answer or proceed further. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 75 out of 100.
demurrer is pronounced /dɪˈmʌɹə/.
Why “demurrer” is a great word
DEMURRER — [Noun] A legal objection asserting that even if the facts alleged by the opposing party are true, they are insufficient in law to support the claim or defense, thus requiring no further answer. From Anglo-Norman *demurrer*, a nominal use of the infinitive of Old French *demourer* ("to delay, stay, hesitate"), from Latin *demorari* ("to delay, detain"), from *de-" ("thoroughly") + *morari* ("to delay"). First attested in English in the 1530s. Unlike a general "objection," which is a cry of dissent, or a substantive "plea," which engages the factual merits, a demurrer is a procedural pause—a formal refusal to proceed on the board as presented. It is the cold click of a lock on a door through which no argument can pass, the raised hand of a judge halting a speech mid-air, the chess player who, without touching a piece, declares the match invalid. It is the recognition that some battles are won by demonstrating there was never anything worth fighting over.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman demurrer, form of Old French demourer (“to demur”), infinitive used as noun.
noun
- A motion by a party to a legal action for the immediate or summary judgment of the court on the question of whether, assuming the truth of the matter alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the action or defense, and hence whether the party bringing the motion is required to answer or proceed further.“In a demurrer filed on 28 February to the Los Angeles county superior court, Franco’s lawyers asked that the lawsuit filed in October by Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal be dismissed, saying none of the alleged events detailed had happened, and the statute of limitations had passed for the accusations.”
- Someone who demurs.