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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
A word I like, but seldom see displayed. Women's lib is OK,
but a young lady who can speak demurely is too rare now.
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
Definition: \De*mure"\, a. [Perh. from OF. de murs (i. e., de bonnes
murs of good manners); de of + murs, mours, meurs, mors, F.
m?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.
Sober, steadfast, and demure. --Milton.
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.
2. Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of
gravity.
A cat lay, and looked so demure, as if there had
been neither life nor soul in her. --L'Estrange.
Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and
coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her
head. --Miss
Mitford.
\De*mure"\, v. i.
To look demurely. [Obs.] --Shak.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
In reply to:
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.
Interesting. Very much delighted--and showing it all in her eyes--body under control. Completely. But not the windows to the soul.
Thanks for demurely. I never knew it meant fundamentally 'of good manners' although I had the sense of the word.
There are those rare beings whose bearing is demure for whom I hold great admiration, but as many as I can think of whom I admire for being demure, just as many come to mind who are anything but and I love them just as much for their unbridled enthusiasm and outlandishness.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,128 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,128 Likes: 2 |
From Iolanthe, The Nightmare Song:
SONG-LORD CHANCELLOR.
"When you're lying awake with a dismal headache, and repose is taboo'd by anxiety,
I conceive you may use any language you choose to indulge in, without impropriety;
For your brain is on fire - the bedclothes conspire of usual slumber to plunder you:
First your counterpane goes, and uncovers your toes, and your sheet slips demurely from under you..."
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Lord, that poem sounds all the world like menopausal night sweats to me!
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 555
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 555 |
demurely slipping sheet indeed....if I were in the throes of something like that, I would have viciously yanked the sheet and mangled it! Sorry wwh...but we *do seem to have lost all sense of decorum and demureness..(scuffing toes)  Any relation to demur?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
demure is related to Latin mos (singular),mores = customs,manners
demur is related to Latin mora = delay, be unwilling to agree,take exception to
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