demure
adjective/dɪˈmjʊə(r)/
/dɪˈmjʊr/
(usually approving)- (usually of a woman or a girl) behaving in a quiet, shy way that does not attract attention synonym modest
- a demure young lady
- suggesting that somebody is demure synonym modest
- a demure smile
- a demure navy blouse with a white collar
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘sober, serious, reserved’): perhaps from Old French demoure, past participle of demourer ‘remain’, based on Latin de- ‘away, completely’ + morari ‘delay’; influenced by Old French mur ‘grave’, from Latin maturus ‘ripe or mature’. The sense ‘reserved, shy’ dates from the late 17th cent.
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demure