mien

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His mien was at once dignified, and when contrasted with the promiscuous countenances that surrounded him, wore an air singularly American.

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Definitions (6)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun Bearing or manner, especially as it reveals an inner state of mind: "He was a Vietnam veteran with a haunted mien” (James Traub).
  2. noun An appearance or aspect.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (2)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (50)

  • Yet there was that of sympathy and sincerity in my voice and mien--or so she told me after--which turned her wrath aside You, Monsieur; I thought it was old Monsieur Viard, he pursues me so It was the same little maid I had seen in the hall, and that was why I trembled. —  The Black Wolf's Breed A Story of France in the Old World and the New, happening in the Reign of Louis XIV
  • They are getting too familiar--walking into a chap's room without waiting to be invited This time he was brought before a higher official with a more exalted mien, and manners of inextinguishable anger. —  Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life
  • With this he presented himself at the palace-gates, where, even though he came alone, his mien was so dignified and graceful, so altogether charming, that every one did him reverence, and was eager to run and tell the Fair One with Golden Locks, that Avenant another ambassador from the king her suitor, awaited an audience Avenant!" —  The Fairy Book The Best Popular Stories Selected and Rendered Anew
  • One of the most famous among them, Li Lung-mien (ca. 1040-1106), for instance painted the different breeds of horses in the imperial stables. —  A history of China., [3d ed. rev. and enl.]
  • But"--with drooping head and affectedly humble and dejected mien--"it couldn't be expected to be enough for you, could it Hardly," she looked up at him through her long lashes Well, since that ain't enough for you," still with affected resignation, "let me tell you this: You're going to dance to bigger crowds and higher class ones than you ever saw before, because you're going to be advertised proper, see?" —  The Black Pearl
 

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

demeanor ·  countenance ·  deportment ·  composure ·  pose ·  nod ·  dignity ·  posture ·  gait ·  gaze ·  brow ·  resignation
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Alteration (influenced by French mine, appearance) of Middle English demeine, demeanor, from Old French, from demener, to behave; see demean1.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Formerly also mein, meane, meen, mine; = Middle Dutch mijne, Dutch mine = German miene = Swedish min = Danish mine, from French mine, air, look, mien, from Italian mina, Old Italian mena, behavior, carriage, deportment, mien, from menare, from Middle Latin minare, also menare, conduct, lead, carry, follow up, drive, from Latin minari, threaten: see menace and mine.
 

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/min/
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