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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. adj. Modest and reserved in manner or behavior.
  2. adj. Affectedly shy, modest, or reserved. See Synonyms at shy1.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. Sober; grave; modest; formally decorous: as, a demure look.
  2. Affectedly modest; making a demonstration of gravity or decorum.
  3. To look with reserve or bashfulness.

Wiktionary

  1. adj. Quiet, modest, reserved, or serious.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. adj. Of sober or serious mien; composed and decorous in bearing; of modest look; staid; grave.
  2. adj. Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.
  3. v. To look demurely.

WordNet 3.0

  1. adj. affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way

Etymologies

  1. Middle English, probably from Anglo-Norman (influenced by Old French mur, meur, mature, serious), past participle of demurer, to delay, wait; see demur.

Examples

  • “Above his head, Jasmine curls her body into a Scorpion, her expression demure, bordering on bashful.”

    Simon & Schuster: Cheer!

  • “All that tenderest care and kindest heart could suggest was done to make me comfortable by my kind hosts; and the cavalcade of retainers, with which I had come out so gayly, followed in demure silence.”

    Hawaii's Story, by Hawaii's Queen

  • “McCain makes the Bush daughters look demure, which is a shame: we had so much hope for them taking over their father's mantle, but McCain looks like she will be fun too.”

    Paul Jenkins: Republican Circus: Extended Engagement

  • “She actually envied the simplicity of Lucy Morris, for whom she delighted to find evil names, calling her demure, a prig, a sly puss, and so on.”

    The Eustace Diamonds

  • “Morris, for whom she delighted to find evil names, calling her demure, a prig, a sly puss, and so on.”

    The Eustace Diamonds

  • “Both very, very -- kind of demure and kind of quiet.”

    CNN Transcript Feb 14, 2005

  • “It peeps out, even in the most serious passages, in a kind of demure rebellion against the fanaticism of his remorseless intelligence.”

    The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 05, No. 31, May, 1860

  • “In repose, it had a look of having just finished saying something humorous, a kind of demure appreciation of itself.”

    Piccadilly Jim

  • “There was no doubt that the official was equally attracted and fascinated by her prettiness, and although her acceptance of his return was certainly not a cordial one, there was a kind of demure restraint and over-consciousness in her manner that might be coquetry.”

    Tales of Trail and Town

  • “Thimister Couture Red Hooded Dress-This is totally reminiscent of early, "demure" Gaga.”

    Refinery29

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‘demure’ has been looked up 2826 times, loved by 21 people, added to 90 lists, and has a Scrabble score of 9.