Word a Day
demure
What does demure mean?
demure (adjective): modest, quiet, reserved, or serious.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce demure?
/dɪˈmjʊɹ/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does demure come from?
Inherited from Middle English demure, demwre, an abbreviation of Anglo-Norman de mure port (“with a mature demeanor”) (compare Old French meur from Latin mātūrus).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What are synonyms of demure?
From Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Test yourself: do you know “demure”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “demure” mean?
made by hand; manufactured manually
Not quite: that's what handmade means.
modest, quiet, reserved, or serious
Right! That's what “demure” means.
contrived by art rather than nature
Not quite: that's what artificial means.
characterized by order and planning
Not quite: that's what systematic means.
Which word is closest in meaning to “demure”?
coy
Right!
apt
Not quite: apt means something else.
lax
Not quite: lax means something else.
wan
Not quite: wan means something else.
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