ENGLISH
REFERENCE

demean

v.
US //dɪˈmin// UK //dɪmˈiːn// de·mean Archaic
Synonyms
Etymology 1

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

Etymology 2

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

Etymology 3

Variant of demesne.

Etymology 4

de- + mean

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