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demeaning

 - 6 dictionary results

de⋅mean⋅ing

  [di-mee-ning]
–adjective
that demeans; debasing; degrading: Being forced to apologize when I had done nothing wrong was a demeaning task.
Use demeaning in a Sentence
Origin:
1875–80; demean 1 + -ing 2

de⋅mean

1  [di-meen]
–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. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To demeaning
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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Word Origin & History

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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