demure - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

de·mure

Audio Help [di-myoor] Pronunciation Key

–adjective, -mur·er, -mur·est.

1.	characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved.

2.	affectedly or coyly decorous, sober, or sedate.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME dem(e)ur(e) well-mannered, grave < AF demuré, ptp. of demurer to demur; perh. influenced by OF mur, mëur grave, mature (< L matūrus)

]

—Related forms

de·mure·ly, adverb

de·mure·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. retiring. See modest.

—Antonyms 1, 2. indecorous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
demure

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

de·mure Audio Help (dĭ-myŏŏr') Pronunciation Key
adj. de·mur·er, de·mur·est

Modest and reserved in manner or behavior.
Affectedly shy, modest, or reserved. See Synonyms at shy¹.

[Middle English, probably from Anglo-Norman (influenced by Old French mur, meur, mature, serious), past participle of demurer, to delay, wait; see demur.]

de·mure'ly adv., de·mure'ness n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
demure (adj.)

1377, from O.Fr. meur "discreet," from L. maturus "mature." The de- in this word is of uncertain meaning.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

demure
adjective
affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way [syn: coy]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
demure [diˈmjuə] adjective

quiet, shy, modest and well behaved (sometimes deceptively)
Example: She looked too demure ever to do such a bold thing.

Arabic:	مُحْتَشِم، مُتَظاهِر بالإحْتِشام
Chinese (Simplified):	娴静的，古板地，端庄的
Chinese (Traditional):	嫻靜的，古板地，端莊的
Czech:	zdrženlivý, upejpavý
Danish:	ærbar; dydig
Dutch:	ingetogen, preuts
Estonian:	(silmakirjalikult) tagasihoidlik
Finnish:	kaino
French:	réservé
German:	gesetzt
Greek:	σεμνός, συνεσταλμένος
Hungarian:	illedelmes
Icelandic:	feiminn, alvörugefinn; hlédrægur
Indonesian:	pemalu
Italian:	discreto, modesto

Japanese:	上品ぶった
Korean:	얌전한, 나서기를 싫어하는, 조용하고 예의바른, 점잔을 빼는
Latvian:	atturīgs; liekuļoti kautrīgs
Lithuanian:	kuklutis, nedrąsutis
Norwegian:	uskyldig, litt kokett, blåøyd
Polish:	skromny
Portuguese (Brazil):	recatado
Portuguese (Portugal):	recatado
Romanian:	sfios, rezervat
Russian:	скромный
Slovak:	zdržanlivý
Slovenian:	zadržan
Spanish:	recatado
Swedish:	allvarlig, from, blyg, tillbakadragen
Turkish:	utangaç, ağırbaşlı

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Demure

De*mure"\, a. [Perh. from OF. de murs (i. e., de bonnes murs of good manners); de of + murs, mours, meurs, mors, F. m?urs, fr. L. mores (sing. mos) manners, morals (see Moral); or more prob. fr. OF. me["u]r, F. m[^u]r mature, ripe (see Mature) in a phrase preceded by de, as de m[^u]re conduite of mature conduct.]

1. Of sober or serious mien; composed and decorous in bearing; of modest look; staid; grave.

Sober, steadfast, and demure. --Milton.

Nan was very much delighted in her demure way, and that delight showed itself in her face and in her clear bright eyes. --W. Black.

2. Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.

A cat lay, and looked so demure, as if there had been neither life nor soul in her. --L'Estrange.

Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her head. --Miss Mitford.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Demure

De*mure"\, v. i. To look demurely. [Obs.] --Shak.

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