humble submission and respect:

｟かたく｠ (人の意見･判断への)服従; 【人への】敬意 «to»

e.g. he addressed her with the deference due to age.

out of respect for; in consideration of:

e.g. in deference to her wishes we spent two weeks on the coast.

mid 17th century: from French déférence, from déférer ‘refer’ (see defer2).