Hypertext Webster Gateway: "demure"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Demure \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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Demure \De*mure"\, v. i.
To look demurely. [Obs.] --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
demure
adj : affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or
provocative way [syn: {coy}, {overmodest}]
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