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Webster 1913 Edition

Demure

De-mure′

(dē̍-mūr′)
,
Adj.
[Perh. from OF.
de murs
(i. e.,
de bonnes murs
of good manners);
de
of +
murs
,
mours
,
meurs
,
mors
, F.
mœurs
, 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′

,
Verb.
I.
To look demurely.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Demure

DEMURE

,
Adj.
Sober; grave; modest; downcast; as a demure countenance; a demure abasing of the eye.

DEMURE

,
Verb.
I.
To look with a grave countenance.

Definition 2024

demure

demure

English

Adjective

demure ‎(comparative more demure, superlative most demure)

  1. Quiet, modest, reserved, sober, or serious.
    She is a demure young lady.
    • W. Black
      Nan was very much delighted in her demure way, and that delight showed itself in her face and in her clear bright eyes.
    • 2014 January 21, Hermione Hoby, “Julia Roberts interview for August: Osage County – 'I might actually go to **** for this ...': Julia Roberts reveals why her violent, Oscar-nominated performance in August: Osage County made her feel 'like a terrible person' [print version: 'I might actually go to **** for this ...' (18 January 2014, p. R4)]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review):
      [H]owever hard she pushed the tough-talkin' shtick, she remained doe-eyed, glowing and somehow unassailably demure.
  2. Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.
    • L'Estrange
      A cat lay, and looked so demure, as if there had been neither life nor soul in her.
    • Miss Mitford
      Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her head.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

demure ‎(third-person singular simple present demures, present participle demuring, simple past and past participle demured)

  1. (obsolete) To look demurely.
    • 1623, William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra (act 4, scene 16, line 30)
      Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes […] shall acquire no Honour Demuring upon me.

Etymology

From Old French meur (Modern French mûr) from Latin maturus. The "de-" is "of", of modesty.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɪˈmjʊə(ɹ)/
  • (US) IPA(key): /dɪˈmjʊɹ/
Distinguish from pronunciation of demur
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)
  • Rhymes: -ʊə(ɹ)

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