Crossword clues for demure
demure
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Demure \De*mure"\, a. [Perh. from OF. de murs (i. e., de bonnes murs of good manners); de of + murs, mours, meurs, mors, F. m?urs, fr. L. mores (sing. mos) manners, morals (see Moral); or more prob. fr. OF. me["u]r, F. m[^u]r mature, ripe (see Mature) in a phrase preceded by de, as de m[^u]re conduite of mature conduct.]
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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. -
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.
Demure \De*mure"\, v. i.
To look demurely. [Obs.]
--Shak.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
late 14c. (early 14c. as a surname), from Old French meur "mature, fully grown, ripe," hence "discreet," from Latin maturus "mature" (see mature (v.)) [OED]. The de- in this word is of uncertain meaning. Or possibly from Anglo-French demuré (Old French demoré), past participle of demorer "stay," and influenced by meur [Barnhart]. Or from Old French de (bon) murs "of good manners," from murs (Modern French moeurs) [Klein].
Wiktionary
1 quiet, modest, reserved, sober, or serious. 2 Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity. v
(context obsolete English) To look demurely.
WordNet
adj. affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way [syn: coy, overmodest]
Usage examples of "demure".
Upstairs in her room at The Forks, she took great care about her toilette, and came down to the veranda in a demure dress of palest yellow, offset with little bows of apple green.
She looked enchanting, and many of the female guests gathered on the lawn at The Forks of Cypress to watch the ceremony wished for a child as demure.
There is a demure look, there is an instant obedience, there is an absence of fretfulness, and an abnormal, although subdued, cheerfulness, which arouses the watchful gaze of the knowing among mothers, governesses, and nurses.
With them were the four Maries -now very solemn and demure in their heavy capes.
The black robe and her demure coif of short ebony hair gave her an appearance of almost nunlike purity, save for the green hell-fires that danced in her eyes.
In their individual and aggregate air of corruption, malevolence and misanthropy, they made the other inhabitants of the Pinchgut look as genteel and demure as countinghouse clerks.
I believe, so I need not describe her, except to say that she is somewhat changed from the gay butterfly of fashion she used to be, and in time will make as demure a little Quakeress as one could wish to see.
The Assistant Spikeman, as he passed the wayfarers, returned their demure salutations with solemn dignity, as became one in high station, and in whose ears was sounding a call to a meeting of the congregation.
Nickie came in, carrying a tray of martinis, an ironic smile on her face parodying the demure wifeliness of the 1950s that Janet had once believed in.
As a little girl, she had fantasized dressing in the sort of fancy gowns worn by rich clonelings, gliding in to watch magnificent productions while, all around her, the whispered intrigues of great houses went on behind demure smiles and shielding fans.
Women, some clothed in demure pastels, others in stark, vivid colors, were seated across from their handsomely dressed dinner companions.
They exhibited their desire for a man with excessive modesty, as though they could hardly bear the sight of such an overwhelmingly masculine male -- yet with demure glances and innocent postures that resembled the proper position for a female to assume, they let him know he was irresistible.
Even the delicate Pipistrella and the demure Blanda carried handfuls of tarts and pastries into the fray.
Not only was the demure, well-behaved bluestocking Claudia immediately hailed as the Angel, but Augusta herself had proved just as successful.
Very demure, through half-closed eyes, like a panther dozing in the noon-day, he watched his companions at the: feast.