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



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Word of the Day

24 December 2024

INTUITIVELY

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Coffee Trivia

The world’s most expensive coffee costs more than US$700 per kilogram. Asian palm civet – a cat-like creature in Indonesia, eats fruits, including select coffee cherries. It excretes partially digested seeds that produce a smooth, less acidic brew of coffee called kopi luwak.

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