demure
UK /dɪˈmjʊə(ɹ)/ · US /dɪˈmjʊɹ/ adjective, verb
Forms demurer demurest demures demuring demured
- adjective (chiefly of a woman) Modest, quiet, reserved, or serious. “She is a demure young lady.”
- adjective Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.
- verb (obsolete) To look demurely.
Synonyms
retiring shy sober austere frightful serious grave earnest grievous lack-laughter thoughtful sad sage saturnine sedate solemn solemncholy somber sombre staid coy overmodest
Etymology
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”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of sober or serious mien; composed and decorous in bearing; of modest look; staid; grave.
- adjective Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.
- verb To look demurely. [Obs.] Shak.
Etymology [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.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “demure”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details