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demean - 8 dictionary results

de⋅mean

1  [di-meen]
Use demean in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
to lower in dignity, honor, or standing; debase: He demeaned himself by accepting the bribe.
Origin:
1595–1605; de- + mean 2 , modeled on debase

Synonyms:
degrade, humble, humiliate, mortify.

Antonyms:
dignify, honor.

de⋅mean

2  [di-meen]
–verb (used with object)
1. to conduct or behave (oneself) in a specified manner.
–noun
2. Archaic. demeanor.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME deme(i)nen < AF, OF demener, equiv. to de- de- + mener to lead, conduct < L mināre to drive, minārī to threaten
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To demean
de·mean 1   (dĭ-mēn')   
tr.v.   de·meaned, de·mean·ing, de·means
To conduct or behave (oneself) in a particular manner: demeaned themselves well in class.

[Middle English demeinen, to govern, from Old French demener : de-, de- + mener, to conduct (from Latin mināre, to drive (animals), from minārī, to threaten, from minae, threats; see men-2 in Indo-European roots).]
de·mean 2   (dĭ-mēn')   
tr.v.   de·meaned, de·mean·ing, de·means
  1. To debase, as in dignity or social standing: professionals who feel demeaned by unskilled work.
  2. To humble (oneself). See Synonyms at degrade.

[de- + mean2.]
de·mean'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Demean

De*mean"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demeaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Demeaning.] [OF. demener to conduct, guide, manage, F. se d['e]mener to struggle; pref. d['e]- (L. de) + mener to lead, drive, carry on, conduct, fr. L. minare to drive animals by threatening cries, fr. minari to threaten. See Menace.]

1. To manage; to conduct; to treat.

[Our] clergy have with violence demeaned the matter. --Milton.

2. To conduct; to behave; to comport; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun.

They have demeaned themselves Like men born to renown by life or death. --Shak.

They answered . . . that they should demean themselves according to their instructions. --Clarendon.

3. To debase; to lower; to degrade; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun.

Her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist's daughter. --Thackeray.

Note: This sense is probably due to a false etymology which regarded the word as connected with the adjective mean.

Demean

De*mean"\, n. [OF. demene. See Demean, v. t.]

1. Management; treatment. [Obs.]

Vile demean and usage bad. --Spenser.

2. Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor. [Obs.]

With grave demean and solemn vanity. --West.

Demean

De*mean"\, n. [See Demesne.]

1. Demesne. [Obs.]

2. pl. Resources; means. [Obs.]

You know How narrow our demeans are. --Massinger.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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demean 
"lower in dignity," 1601, 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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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