D defs.my
Entry 7 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Demean

/dĭm-ēn'/ · De·mean · IPA /dɪˈmiːn/
01 v. t. To manage; to conduct; to treat.
imp. & p. p. Demeaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Demeaning
  1. 1.
    To manage; to conduct; to treat.
    “[Our] clergy have with violence demeaned the matter.” Milton.
  2. 2.
    To conduct; to behave; to comport; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun.
    “They have demeaned themselves Like men born to renown by life or death.” Shak.
    “They answered . . . that they should demean themselves according to their instructions.” Clarendon.
  3. 3.
    To debase; to lower; to degrade; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun.
    “Her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist's daughter.” Thackeray.
02 n. Management; treatment.
  1. 1.
    Management; treatment.[Obs.]
    “Vile demean and usage bad.” Spenser.
  2. 2.
    Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor.[Obs.]
    “With grave demean and solemn vanity.” — West.
03 n. Demesne.
  1. 1.
    Demesne.[Obs.]
  2. 2.
    Resources; means.[Obs.]
    “You know How narrow our demeans are.” Massinger.