New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
Demean — De*mean , n. [OF. demene. See {Demean}, v. t.] 1. Management; treatment. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Vile demean and usage bad. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] With grave demean and solemn vanity.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Demean — De*mean , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Demeaned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Demeaning}.] [OF. demener to conduct, guide, manage, F. se d[ e]mener to struggle; pref. d[ e] (L. de) + mener to lead, drive, carry on, conduct, fr. L. minare to drive animals by… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
demean — lower in dignity, c.1600, perhaps from DE (Cf. de ) down + MEAN (Cf. mean) (adj.) and modeled on DEBASE (Cf. debase). Indistinguishable in some uses from obsolete demean (see DEMEANOR (Cf. demeanor)) which influenced it and may be its true source … Etymology dictionary
demean — deport, comport, *behave, conduct, acquit, quit Analogous words: *carry, bear (as reflexive verbs) demean *abase, degrade, debase, humble, humiliate Contrasted words: heighten, enhance (see INTENSIFY): * … New Dictionary of Synonyms
demean — ► VERB 1) cause to suffer a loss of dignity or respect. 2) (demean oneself) do something that is beneath one s dignity. DERIVATIVES demeaning adjective. ORIGIN from DE (Cf. ↑de ) + MEAN … English terms dictionary
demean — demean1 [dē mēn′, dimēn′] vt. [ DE + MEAN2, after DEBASE] to lower in status or character; degrade; humble [to demean oneself by taking a bribe] demean2 [dē mēn′, dimēn′] vt. [see DEMEANOR] to behave, conduct … English World dictionary
Demean — De*mean , n. [See {Demesne}.] 1. Demesne. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. pl. Resources; means. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] You know How narrow our demeans are. Massinger. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
demean — I (deport oneself) verb acquit, act, appear, bear, behave, carry, comport, conduct, convey the impression, create the impression, function, have the mien, leave the impression, look, manage, present oneself, present the appearance, quit,… … Law dictionary
demean — [v] humble, humiliate abase, badmouth*, belittle, bemean, cast down, contemn, cut down to size*, cut rate, debase, decry, degrade, derogate, descend, despise, detract, dis*, disparage, dump on*, knock down*, lower, pan*, poor mouth*, scorn, sink … New thesaurus
demean — I v. (formal) (D; refl.) ( to degrade ) to demean by (I will not demean myself by cheating on the examination) II v. (formal) (d; refl.) ( to behave ) (he demeaned himself like a gentleman) * * * [dɪ miːn] (formal) (D; refl.) ( to degrade ) to… … Combinatory dictionary
demean — UK [dɪˈmiːn] / US [dɪˈmɪn] verb [transitive] Word forms demean : present tense I/you/we/they demean he/she/it demeans present participle demeaning past tense demeaned past participle demeaned formal to make people have less respect for someone… … English dictionary
