In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
DEMURE
coy, demure, overmodest
(adjective) affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
demure (comparative demurer, superlative demurest)
(usually, of women) Quiet, modest, reserved, sober, or serious.
Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.
Verb
demure (third-person singular simple present demures, present participle demuring, simple past and past participle demured)
(obsolete) To look demurely.
Source: Wiktionary
De*mure", a. Etym: [Perh. from OF. de murs (i. e., de bonnes murs of good manners); de of + murs, mours, meurs, mors, F. m, fr. L. mores (sing. mos) manners, morals (see Moral); or more prob. fr. OF. meür, F. mûr mature, ripe (see Mature) in a phrase preceded by de, as de mûre 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.
De*mure", v. i.
Definition: To look demurely. [Obs.] Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
23 January 2025
LEFT
(adjective) being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north; “my left hand”; “left center field”; “the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream”
Coffee Trivia
