Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The state or aspect of being demure; gravity of countenance or demeanor, real or affected; a show of modesty.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The state of being demure; gravity; the show of gravity or modesty.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The state or quality of being
demure .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the affectation of being demure in a provocative way
- noun the trait of behaving with reserve and decorum
Etymologies
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Examples
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"demureness"/reducing the flesh on display/wearing a jacket really doesn't make sense.
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We were weeks past demureness, of secreting ourselves deep into earshotless underbrush to go to the bathroom.
It Wasn't Me. Chris Braiotta 2011
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Everyone onstage was almost obediently good; it was left to Auguin's orchestra to sound reminders of love and passion beyond demureness in the pit.
Anne Midgette reviews Washington National Opera's 'Madama Butterfly' 2011
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After his unusual demureness in face of the star-making machinery, I'm pleased to see Philip Pullman recovering his characteristic pugnacity to defend his dark materials from the interference of the interfering Faithful: Religion grants its adherents malign, intoxicating and morally corrosive sensations.
Philip Gets His Groove Back Roger Sutton 2008
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Modern women, rarely overtly assertive, conform to traditional standards of "seductive demureness."
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After his unusual demureness in face of the star-making machinery, I'm pleased to see Philip Pullman recovering his characteristic pugnacity to defend his dark materials from the interference of the interfering Faithful: Religion grants its adherents malign, intoxicating and morally corrosive sensations.
Archive 2008-09-01 Roger Sutton 2008
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Modern women, rarely overtly assertive, conform to traditional standards of "seductive demureness."
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The Quran speaks of beauty and demureness, saying that Muslim women should "lower their gaze and guard their modesty," and should not "display their beauty and ornaments."
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Modern women, rarely overtly assertive, conform to traditional standards of "seductive demureness."
Tom Doctoroff: Sex in China: Prudence and Prurience Tom Doctoroff 2010
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When you represent some part of the sprawling federal government, though, there's more to contend with than just personal demureness.
State, Agencies Working Out the Details to Get Online Scola, Nancy 2009
yarb commented on the word demureness
"Mrs. Trunnion, composing her countenance into a look of religious demureness, rebuked him for his profane way of talking..."
— Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, 1751
January 14, 2022