Synonyms: Verb (2)
acquit bear behave carry comport conduct deport quitAntonyms: Verb (1)
elevate ennoble upliftecclesiastical
EnglishMerriam-Webster DictionaryEnglishMerriam-Webster DictionaryExamples
Verb (1)
- //it demeans the political process to demand that candidates make promises that everyone knows are unrealistic
- //his statement was not meant to demean the group's hard work
Verb (2)
- //I shall endeavor to demean myself with utmost respect when our pastor comes to visit
History and Etymology
Verb (1)
de- + mean entry 2, probably after debaseVerb (2)
Middle English demenen, demeynen "to rule, control, decide, arrange, keep within bounds, moderate, behave (in a certain way), conduct (oneself)," borrowed from Anglo-French demein-, tonic stem of demener "to lead, guide, carry on, subject to, treat, agitate," (intransitive) "to strive, thrash about," (reflexive) "to behave" (also continental Old & Middle French), from de- de- + mener "to lead, bring," going back to Latin mināre "to push, impel (an animal forward)," active form of the deponent verb minārī "to threaten" — more at minatoryNOTE: The verb mināre "to impel, drive (an animal)" is marginally attested in later classical Latin but more fully in Late Latin; in the Vulgate the object can also be human or inanimate. In early medieval Latin the notion "drive" shifted to "lead," a sense continued by Romance descendants of mināre (as French mener, Upper Engadine Romansh mner, Italian menare, Occitan & Catalan menar). The Old French prefixed derivative demener displays a wide array of meanings, which in part were passed through Anglo-French to Middle English demenen. The verbs in the modern languages—French démener, English demean—retain few of these meanings.
demean
verb (1)
Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)
- to lower in character, dignity, or quality //it demeans the political process to demand that candidates make promises that everyone knows are unrealisticSynonymsRelated WordsExamplesVerb (1)
- //it demeans the political process to demand that candidates make promises that everyone knows are unrealistic
- //his statement was not meant to demean the group's hard work
Verb (2)- //I shall endeavor to demean myself with utmost respect when our pastor comes to visit
History and EtymologyVerb (1)de- + mean entry 2, probably after debaseVerb (2)Middle English demenen, demeynen "to rule, control, decide, arrange, keep within bounds, moderate, behave (in a certain way), conduct (oneself)," borrowed from Anglo-French demein-, tonic stem of demener "to lead, guide, carry on, subject to, treat, agitate," (intransitive) "to strive, thrash about," (reflexive) "to behave" (also continental Old & Middle French), from de- de- + mener "to lead, bring," going back to Latin mināre "to push, impel (an animal forward)," active form of the deponent verb minārī "to threaten" — more at minatoryNOTE: The verb mināre "to impel, drive (an animal)" is marginally attested in later classical Latin but more fully in Late Latin; in the Vulgate the object can also be human or inanimate. In early medieval Latin the notion "drive" shifted to "lead," a sense continued by Romance descendants of mināre (as French mener, Upper Engadine Romansh mner, Italian menare, Occitan & Catalan menar). The Old French prefixed derivative demener displays a wide array of meanings, which in part were passed through Anglo-French to Middle English demenen. The verbs in the modern languages—French démener, English demean—retain few of these meanings.
demeanverb (1)Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)
- to lower in character, dignity, or quality //it demeans the political process to demand that candidates make promises that everyone knows are unrealisticSynonyms