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demure

Etymology and origin of the English word demure

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /dɪˈmjʊə(ɹ)/ (UK); /dɪˈmjʊɹ/, /dɪˈmjɔɹ/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English and of uncertain formation.[2][3] It is probably from Anglo-French demuré, past participle of demorer “to stay”,[4][5][6] influenced by Old French meür “mature, grave”,[4][5][3][6] from Latin mātūrus (“mature”).[4][5][3][6] Barnhart also suggests a formation with an uncertain prefix de- and meür “discreet”.[5][3] It is related to demur and mature.[4][5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Calm, settled, still (1377).[7][5][3]

Semantic evolution

In the 15th century the word described persons who were sober, grave and composed.[7][3] From 1693 it took the sense of affectedly grave or coy,[7][3] which is now common alongside the plain sense of modest and reserved.[4][2][6]

Timeline

  • early 14th century – as an Anglo-French surname.[3]
  • 1377 – calm, settled.[7][5]
  • 15th century – sober, grave, reserved.[7][3]
  • 1693 – affectedly modest or coy.[7][3]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Modest, quiet and reserved in manner.
  2. Affectedly shy, modest or serious; coy.

Word family

  • demurely
  • demureness
  • demur
  • mature

Usage notes

Random House gives retiring as a synonym, refers to modest for a fuller discussion, and gives indecorous as an antonym.[6]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  6. ^ a b c d e f Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Demure.” Etymologically, 13 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/demure. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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