Meaning

2 senses

  1. Modest, quiet, reserved, or serious.

    She is a demure young lady.

    zurückhaltend, ernst, sittsam

    скро́мныйskrómnyj, серьёзныйserʹjóznyj, сде́ржанныйsdéržannyj

  2. Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.

    affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way

Examples

3 sentences

  1. Skura's style of dress was described as demure.

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  2. Mary is wearing demure clothes.

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  3. I love your demure smile.

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Translations

7 languages
Русский
By meaning 1
modest, quiet, reserved:
Deutsch
By meaning 1
modest, quiet, reserved:

Origin

Inherited from Middle English demure, demwre, an abbreviation of Anglo-Norman de mure port

Inherited from Middle English demure, demwre, an abbreviation of Anglo-Norman de mure port (“with a mature demeanor”) (compare Old French meur from Latin mātūrus):

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Forms

demurer, demurest
Comparativedemurer Lesson
Superlativedemurest Lesson

irregular

Synonyms

27 synonyms
shyA1austereC2seriousB1graveB1earnestB1thoughtfulB2sadA1sageB2sedateC1sombreC1sternB2retiringsoberfrightful
Close in meaning
  • affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way:coyovermodest

Word family

4 related words
Relateddemureness
Deriveddemurelydemurityundemure

Lessons for this word

2 lessons

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
demotiondemotivatedemurdendenguedenial
demure — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto