i Register
In some senses, demean is marked as obsolete, archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.
demean
/dɪˈmiːn/
verb 6noun 4
Collocations
5ADJ.
mean
VERB + DEMEAN
didn't, shouldn't
DEMEAN + NOUN
activity, data, himself, non-native, people, speakers, themselves
PREP.
with
ADV.
such
Definitions
verb
1
To debase; to lower; to degrade.
It was, of course, Mrs. Sedley's opinion that her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist's daughter.
2
To humble; to humiliate.
3
To mortify.
verb
1
To manage; to conduct; to treat.
But now, as our obdurate clergy have with violence demeaned the matter.
2
To conduct; to behave; to comport; followed by the reflexive pronoun.
they have demean'd themselves Like men born to renown by life or death.
They answered […] that they should demean themselves according to their instructions.
noun
1
Management; treatment.
Pursu'd him streight, in mynd to bene ywroken / Of all the vile demeane, and vsage bad
2
Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor.
‘When thou hast all this doen, then bring me newes / Of his demeane […].’
with grave demean and solemn vanity
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
It was, of course, Mrs. Sedley's opinion that her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist's daughter.
Wiktionary02
But now, as our obdurate clergy have with violence demeaned the matter.
Wiktionary03
they have demean'd themselves Like men born to renown by life or death.
Wiktionary04
They answered […] that they should demean themselves according to their instructions.
Wiktionary05
Pursu'd him streight, in mynd to bene ywroken / Of all the vile demeane, and vsage bad
Wiktionary06
‘When thou hast all this doen, then bring me newes / Of his demeane […].’
WiktionaryUsage Notes
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