demean

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /dɪˈmiːn/, X-SAMPA: /dI"mi:n/
• Rhymes: -iːn

Etymology 1

(1595) From de- +‎ mean "lowly, base" from Middle English mene, aphetic variation of imene (“mean, base, common”), from Old English ġemǣne (“mean, common”).

Verb

demean (third-person singular simple present demeans, present participle demeaning, simple past and past participle demeaned)

1. To debase; to lower; to degrade.
2. To humble, humble oneself; to humiliate.
3. To mortify.

Synonyms

• debase
• lower
• degrade

Etymology 2

Middle English demenen, demeinen, from Anglo-Norman demener, from Old French demener, from de- + mener (“to conduct, lead”), from Latin mināre and Latin minārī "to threaten"

Verb

demean (third-person singular simple present demeans, present participle demeaning, simple past and past participle demeaned)

1. To manage; to conduct; to treat.
2. To conduct; to behave; to comport; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun.

Translations

To debase; to lower; to degrade.

• Dutch: neerhalen (nl),vernederen (nl)
• Italian: svilire (it)

• Spanish: degradar (es), menospreciar (es), humillar (es)

To manage; to conduct; to treat.

• Dutch: gedragen (nl),behandelen (nl)

• Spanish: conducir (es), gestionar (es)

Noun

demean (usually uncountable; plural demeans)

1. (archaic) Management; treatment.
2. (archaic) Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, V.5:

     ‘When thou hast all this doen, then bring me newes / Of his demeane […].’

Translations

Management; treatment.

• Dutch: beheer (nl),behandeling (nl)

Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor.

• Dutch: gedrag (nl),houding (nl)

Related terms

• demeanor

Etymology 3

Var. of demesne.

Noun

demean (plural demeans)

1. demesne.
2. resources; means.

Anagrams

• amened
• meaned
• Medean