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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
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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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Carpal Tunnel
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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
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Lord, that poem sounds all the world like menopausal night sweats to me!
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addict
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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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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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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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