de·mean·ing

[dih-mee-ning]
adjective
that demeans; debasing; degrading: Being forced to apologize when I had done nothing wrong was a demeaning task.
Origin:
1875–80; demean1 + -ing2

Dictionary.com Unabridged

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.
00:10
Demeaning is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
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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.
Cite This Source Link To demeaning
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.

demeaning
1880, pp. adj. from demean.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
They publicly libeled her with demeaning and repulsive accusations.
Lawyers are sometimes required to perform the noisome and demeaning task of
  defending the indefensible.
That sounded a little demeaning upon reading.
Advice now is taken as strict demeaning criticism that needs to be handled with
  violence and rudeness.
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