Demeanor Meaning
/dɪˈmiːnə(ɹ)/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe social, non-verbal behaviors (such as body language and facial expressions) that are characteristic of a person.
Sentence Examples
I found his pretentious demeanor quite disconcerting.
Could you describe Tom's demeanor?
She was hailed for her virtuous and selfless demeanor.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her calm ____ helped soothe the frantic crowd during the emergency.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I found his pretentious ____ quite disconcerting.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English demenure, from the verb Middle English demenen, demeinen (“to handle, manage”), from Old French demener (“to guide, conduct”), from de- + mener (“to conduct, lead”), from Latin *mināre (“to drive”) and minor (“to project or jut forth”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"At this present (saith he) certeine princes of Britaine, procuring by ambassadors and dutifull demeanors the amitie of the emperour Augustus, haue offered in the capitoll vnto the gods presents or gifts, and haue ordeined the whole Ile in a manner to be appertinent, proper, and familiar to the Romans."
— a. 1587, Raphael Holinshed, quoting Strabo, Historie of England, Book III:
"Demeanors that are apologetic and overly polite are inherently contradictory to demeanors that exhibit fear and anger."
— 1993, “Interrogation: The Kinesics Technique”, in John J. Fay, editor, Encyclopedia of Security Management, →ISBN, page 418:
"He kept up his cheerful demeanor. It wouldn't do for any of the holocams to see him looking irritable, for any recordings of such a response would appear on the news broadcasts."
— 2009 April 12, Aaron Allston, Outcast, New York, N.Y.: Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 27:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her calm ____ helped soothe the frantic crowd during the emergency.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I found his pretentious ____ quite disconcerting.