demure English · revision 1574

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈmjʊə(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /dɪˈmjʊɹ/, /dɪˈmjɔɹ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English and of uncertain formation.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) It is probably from Anglo-French ''demuré'', past participle of ''demorer'' “to stay”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) influenced by Old French ''meür'' “mature, grave”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from [[la|mātūrus|t=mature]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) Barnhart also suggests a formation with an uncertain prefix ''de-'' and ''meür'' “discreet”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[demur]] and [[mature]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Calm, settled, still (1377).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 15th century the word described persons who were sober, grave and composed.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) From 1693 it took the sense of affectedly grave or coy,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) which is now common alongside the plain sense of modest and reserved.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 14th century – as an Anglo-French surname.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1377 – calm, settled.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 15th century – sober, grave, reserved.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1693 – affectedly modest or coy.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Modest, quiet and reserved in manner.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Affectedly shy, modest or serious; [[coy]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[demurely]]

+ * [[demureness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[demur]]

+ * [[mature]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''retiring'' as a synonym, refers to ''modest'' for a fuller discussion, and gives ''indecorous'' as an antonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}