demeanor
[dih-mee-ner]
- conduct; behavior; deportment.
- facial appearance; mien.
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Also especially British, de·mean·our.
Origin of demeanor
Synonyms
See more synonyms for demeanor on Thesaurus.commanner, comportment, bearing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for demeanor
Contemporary Examples
His demeanor, in fact, strangely mimics that of his aircraft: robotic.
Demeanor: If your dog is really submissive, do you really want a bully?
Sunny’s Debut, Bo’s Bubble, and the Undogly Life of a Presidential PetDr. Patty Khuly
August 21, 2013
As you'd predict, the Buzzfeed list of ways to anger Canadians is appropriately reflective of the Canadian demeanor.
Roseanne Barr had an answer for outsized emphasis on beauty and demeanor.
Commenting on his vanilla—some might even say “hokey”—demeanor, my wife said he reminded her of the father on Leave It to Beaver.
Historical Examples
But to his relief he observed no change in the demeanor of his fellow-townsmen.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
"I know it from your face, your demeanor all the time, whatever you're doing," he said.
The Mystery of Murray DavenportRobert Neilson Stephens
His manners and demeanor were extremely modest and unobtrusive.
Of course her words must have been appropriate, even as her demeanor was that of a mourning relative.
FruitfulnessEmile Zola
The second shock was Serena's appearance and the calm graciousness of her demeanor.
Cap'n Dan's DaughterJoseph C. Lincoln
Word Origin and History for demeanor
n.
late 15c., from obsolete Middle English demean "handle, manage, conduct," later "behave in a certain way" (early 14c.), from Old French demener (11c.) "to guide, conduct; to live, dwell," from de- "completely" (see de-) + mener "to lead, direct," from Latin minare "to threaten," in Late Latin "to drive (a herd of animals);" see menace. Sense in English evolved from notion of "conduct, manage" (oneself). Spelling changed by influence of nouns in -or, -our.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper