demeanor

What it means

1. UScountableuncountableThe social, non-verbal behaviors (such as body language and facial expressions) that are characteristic of a person.

   A confident demeanor is crucial for persuading others.

   4 more examples

   The man's demeanor made others suspicious of his intentions.

   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

   Synonyms: behavior, comportment

In a sentence

The man's demeanor made others suspicious of his intentions.

Where it comes from

1. Latin*mināre“to drive”
2. Old Frenchdemener“to guide, conduct”
3. Middle Englishdemenen, demeinen“to handle, manage”
4. Middle Englishdemenure
5. Englishdemeanor

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”).