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demure - 5 dictionary results

de⋅mure

  [di-myoor]
Use demure in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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de·mure   (dĭ-myŏŏr')   
adj.   de·mur·er, de·mur·est
  1. Modest and reserved in manner or behavior.
  2. 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.
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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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.

Demure

De*mure"\, v. i. To look demurely. [Obs.] --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : demure
Spanish: recatado,
German: gesetzt,
Japanese: 上品ぶった
More Translations »

demure  (adj.)
1377, from O.Fr. meur "discreet," from L. maturus "mature." The de- in this word is of uncertain meaning.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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