deference (n.)

"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.

"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.