Deferent /(?)/

Def·er·ent

Deferent

a.
  1. Serving to carry; bearing. [R.]

Deferent

n.
  1. That which carries or conveys.
    Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds.
  2. 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. (Ptolemaic Astron.)