Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Demure

//dɪˈmjʊə(ɹ)// adj, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Modest, quiet, reserved, or serious.

    "She is a demure young lady."

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

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

Adjective
  1. 1
    affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To look demurely. obsolete

    "Your Wife Octavia, with her modeſt eyes, / […] ſhall acquire no Honour / Demuring vpon me:"

Etymology

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English demure, demwre, an abbreviation of Anglo-Norman de mure port (“with a mature demeanor”) (compare Old French meur from Latin mātūrus): *si il seyt coy e de mure port (Amur curteiz) (“he sits quietly and with a mature appearance”) * Documents illustrating the history of Scotland, CLV, 1306, Orders for the custody of Scottish prisoners, CLV: …et que eles soient de bon et meur port (“…with a good and mature demeanor”) * mss. Arundel, 220: ke cely qe vus amerez soyt de gentil manere, coy, de meure porture (“with a mature demeanor”) * (Monastic rule): de aunciene dame de meure porture ke pusse les plus ieuenes rieueler e endoctriner (“an old lady with a mature demeanor able to rule and educate the young girls”).

Etymology 2

Inherited from Middle English demure, demwre, an abbreviation of Anglo-Norman de mure port (“with a mature demeanor”) (compare Old French meur from Latin mātūrus): *si il seyt coy e de mure port (Amur curteiz) (“he sits quietly and with a mature appearance”) * Documents illustrating the history of Scotland, CLV, 1306, Orders for the custody of Scottish prisoners, CLV: …et que eles soient de bon et meur port (“…with a good and mature demeanor”) * mss. Arundel, 220: ke cely qe vus amerez soyt de gentil manere, coy, de meure porture (“with a mature demeanor”) * (Monastic rule): de aunciene dame de meure porture ke pusse les plus ieuenes rieueler e endoctriner (“an old lady with a mature demeanor able to rule and educate the young girls”).

See also for "demure"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: demure