'Demure' definitions:
Definition of 'demure'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way [syn: coy, demure, overmodest]
Definition of 'Demure'
From: GCIDE
- Demure \De*mure"\ (d[-e]*m[=u]r"), a. [Perh. from OF. de murs (i. e., de bonnes murs of good manners); de of + murs, mours, meurs, mors, F. m[oe]urs, fr. L. mores (sing. mos) manners, morals (see Moral); or more prob. fr. OF. me["u]r, F. m[^u]r mature, ripe (see Mature) in a phrase preceded by de, as de m[^u]re conduite of mature conduct.]
- 1. Of sober or serious mien; composed and decorous in bearing; of modest look; staid; grave. [1913 Webster]
- Sober, steadfast, and demure. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Nan was very much delighted in her demure way, and that delight showed itself in her face and in her clear bright eyes. --W. Black. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity. [1913 Webster]
- A cat lay, and looked so demure, as if there had been neither life nor soul in her. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]
- Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her head. --Miss Mitford. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Demure'
From: GCIDE
- Demure \De*mure"\, v. i. To look demurely. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'demure'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- backward,
- bashful,
- censorious,
- close,
- confused,
- conscious,
- coy,
- decent,
- decorous,
- diffident,
- earnest,
- formal,
- frowning,
- grave,
- grim,
- grim-faced,
- grim-visaged,
- hidebound,
- inarticulate,
- long-faced,
- mid-Victorian,
- modest,
- mousy,
- narrow,
- nice,
- old-maidish,
- overmodest,
- priggish,
- prim,
- proper,
- prudish,
- puritanical,
- Quakerish,
- reserved,
- reticent,
- retiring,
- sanctimonious,
- sedate,
- seemly,
- self-conscious,
- serious,
- shamefaced,
- shamefast,
- shy,
- silent,
- skittish,
- smug,
- sober,
- sober-minded,
- sobersided,
- solemn,
- somber,
- staid,
- stammering,
- stiff-necked,
- stone-faced,
- straight-faced,
- straitlaced,
- stuffy,
- thoughtful,
- timid,
- timorous,
- unassertive,
- unassured,
- unsmiling,
- Victorian,
- weighty