demure means modest, quiet, reserved, or serious. It carries an Arena rating of 1609, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, demure ranks #1,386 of 25,264 for Qualifying, #3,285 of 14,297 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #6,082 of 14,322 for Scariest Words, #7,082 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words.
demure is pronounced /dɪˈmjʊə(ɹ)/.
Why “demure” is a great word
Reserved, modest, and serious in manner and appearance, often to an affected degree. From Middle English demure, an abbreviation of the Anglo-Norman phrase de mure port, meaning "of mature demeanor," with meur (from Latin mātūrus, "ripe, mature") as the key root; first attested in the late 14th century. Unlike "coy," which implies a playful feint of shyness for attention, or "timid," which denotes a nervous lack of courage, demure suggests a cultivated and deliberate quiet. It is the high collar fastened to the throat, the hands folded just so in the lap, the gaze held steady but never held too long—a performance of propriety so complete it becomes a second nature, where ripeness of character is best revealed through what is withheld.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English demure, demwre, an abbreviation of Anglo-Norman de mure port (“with a mature demeanor”) (compare Old French meur from Latin mātūrus):
*si il seyt coy e de mure port (Amur curteiz) (“he sits quietly and with a mature appearance”)
* Documents illustrating the history of Scotland, CLV, 1306, Orders for the custody of Scottish prisoners, CLV: …et que eles soient de bon et meur port (“…with a good and mature demeanor”)
* mss. Arundel, 220: ke cely qe vus amerez soyt de gentil manere, coy, de meure porture (“with a mature demeanor”)
* (Monastic rule): de aunciene dame de meure porture ke pusse les plus ieuenes rieueler e endoctriner (“an old lady with a mature demeanor able to rule and educate the young girls”).
adj
- Modest, quiet, reserved, or serious.“She is a demure young lady.”
- Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.“Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her head.”
verb
- To look demurely.“Your Wife Octavia, with her modeſt eyes, / […] ſhall acquire no Honour / Demuring vpon me:”
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