Def"er*ent (?), a. [L. deferens, p. pr. of deferre. See 3d Defer.] Serving to carry; bearing. [R.] "Bodies deferent." Bacon.

Def"er*ent, n. 1. That which carries or conveys.

Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds.

2. (Ptolemaic Astron.) An imaginary circle surrounding the earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the center of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

• showing deference