Demean

Definition of Demean

De`mean´

v. t.	1.	To manage; to conduct; to treat. [imp. & p. p. Demeaned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Demeaning.] [Our] clergy have with violence demeaned the matter. - Milton.
	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.	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.
n.	1.	Management; treatment. Vile demean and usage bad. - Spenser.
	2.	Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor. With grave demean and solemn vanity. - West.
	1.	Demesne.
	2.	Resources; means. You know How narrow our demeans are. - Massinger.

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