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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.

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