demureness en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree English demure Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English demureness From demure + -ness.
Meanings
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(uncountable, usually) The state or quality of being demure.
“Don’t be coy. Haven’t I sent you nice gifts? Haven’t I been sweet to you? You play at demureness, but now? Why him? Why not me?”
2016, C Pam Zhang, How Much of These Hills Is Gold, Virago, page 222:She would laugh, high and loud, and the shopkeepers would laugh with her, their laughter softer than hers, a thoughtful demureness that was mindful of the fact that she was the customer […] and therefore should not be upstaged.
2009, Chika Unigwe, On Black Sisters’ Street, Vintage (2010), pages 257-258:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| demurenesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (4)
pl rozwaga (Translations) · pl powściągliwość (Translations) · pl skromność (Translations) · pl rozważność (Translations)