Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Nearby Entries

mien

- 7 dictionary results

mien

[meen]
–noun
air, bearing, or demeanor, as showing character, feeling, etc.: a man of noble mien.

Origin:
1505–15; prob. aph. var. of obs. demean bearing, demean 2 ; spelled with -ie- to distinguish it from mean 2


appearance, look; carriage.
mien   (mēn)   
n.  
  1. Bearing or manner, especially as it reveals an inner state of mind: "He was a Vietnam veteran with a haunted mien" (James Traub).
  2. An appearance or aspect.

[Alteration (influenced by French mine, appearance) of Middle English demeine, demeanor, from Old French, from demener, to behave; see demean1.]
Main Entry:  mien1
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  demeanor, conduct
Etymology:  shortening and alteration of demean
Main Entry:  mien2
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  appearance, bearing; manner
Etymology:  shortening and alteration of demean
Language Translation for : mien
Spanish: (el) mío, (la) mía, (los) míos, (las) mías,
German: mein, *-e,
Japanese: 私のもの

Mien

Mien\, n. [F. mine; perh. from sane source as mener to lead; cf. E. demean, menace, mine, n.] Aspect; air; manner; demeanor; carriage; bearing.

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As, to be hated, needs but to be seen. --Pope.

mien  (1)
"facial expression," 1513, shortening of M.E. demean "bearing, demeanor" (see demeanor); infl. by M.Fr. mine "appearance, facial expression," possibly of Celtic origin (cf. Bret. min "beak, muzzle, nose," Ir. men "mouth").

mien  (2)
"Chinese wheat flour noodles" (in lo mein, chow mein, etc.), 1934, from Chinese, lit. "wheat flour."
Search another word or see mien on Thesaurus | Reference
>