GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Demean , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demeaned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Demeaning.] [OF. demener to conduct, guide, manage, F. se démener to struggle; pref. dé- (L. de) + mener to lead, drive, carry on, conduct, fr. L. minare to drive animals by threatening cries, fr. minari to threaten. See Menace.]
    To manage; to conduct; to treat.
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   [Our] clergy have with violence demeaned the matter.
   Milton.
   
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   To conduct; to behave; to comport; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun.
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   They have demeaned themselves
   Like men born to renown by life or death.
   Shak.
   
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   They answered . . . that they should demean themselves according to their instructions.
   Clarendon.
   
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   To debase; to lower; to degrade; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun.
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   Her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist's daughter.
   Thackeray.
   
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   ☞ This sense is probably due to a false etymology which regarded the word as connected with the adjective mean.
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2.       
   Demean , n. [OF. demene. See Demean, v. t.]
   Management; treatment. [Obs.]
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   Vile demean and usage bad.
   Spenser.
   
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   Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor. [Obs.]
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   With grave demean and solemn vanity.
   West.
   
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3.       
   Demean, n. [See Demesne.]
   Demesne. [Obs.]
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   pl. Resources; means. [Obs.]
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   You know
   How narrow our demeans are.
   Massinger.
   
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