de·mean

1 [dih-meen]
verb (used with object)
to lower in dignity, honor, or standing; debase: He demeaned himself by accepting the bribe.
Origin:
1595–1605; de- + mean2, modeled on debase

Synonyms
degrade, humble, humiliate, mortify.

Antonyms
dignify, honor.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

de·mean

2 [dih-meen]
verb (used with object)
1.
to conduct or behave (oneself) in a specified manner.
noun
2.
Archaic. demeanor.
Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English deme(i)nen < Anglo-French, Old French demener, equivalent to de- de- + mener to lead, conduct < Latin mināre to drive, minārī to threaten

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Demean is one of our favorite verbs.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
demean1 (dɪˈmiːn) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb
(tr) to lower (oneself) in dignity, status, or character; humble; debase
 
[C17: see de-, mean²; on the model of debase]

demean2 (dɪˈmiːn) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb
rare (tr) to behave or conduct (oneself) in a specified way
 
[C13: from Old French demener, from de- + mener to lead, drive, from Latin mināre to drive (animals), from minārī to use threats]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

demean
"lower in dignity," c.1600, perhaps from de- "down" + mean (adj.) and modeled on debase. Indistinguishable in some uses from obsolete demean (see demeanor) which influenced it and may be its true source.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
There are always individuals that demean good things.
If you find that the state is acting immorally, it would demean.
My intention was not to demean anyone but simply to help promote a community
  that could discuss topics in a mature fashion.
Look, there are things which demean the national character.
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