Demureness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A trait denoting a gentle modesty, reserved behavior, and a shyness in expression that conveys refinement and restraint
2. An attribute signifying a soft-spoken humility, a quiet demeanor, and a low-profile existence that underscores social decorum and propriety
3. The quality of showing quiet modesty and a shy, reserved manner that reflects careful self-restraint

Etymology: Demureness is a plain formation: the adjective "demure" with the suffix "-ness", which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality or state. The suffix itself is very old. It descends from a Proto-Germanic form with roots reaching back to the prehistoric ancestor of many European languages, and it came into English as "-nes" in Old English, later written "-nesse" in Middle English and "-ness" in modern English. It is one of the most productive suffixes in the language, which is why new coinages of this shape appear so readily. The adjective "demure" is the older and more interesting half of the pair. It entered English in the Middle Ages with a sense of being sedate and serious, and only later came to suggest a modest, quietly reserved manner, sometimes with a hint of affected propriety. "Demureness" therefore names that manner as a thing in itself: the quality of being composed, unassuming and restrained in behaviour.

Synonyms: modesty, shyness, reservedness, reticence, bashfulness

Antonyms: boldness, immodesty, forwardness, brashness