demurring

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of demur

comparative more demurring · superlative most demurring

1. Reluctant; tending or serving to demur.

   "I'm the hostess, it would be unsociable for me to leave," I said, flashing him my most demurring smile.

   2006, Scarlett O'Hara Can Go to Hell, page 173

   2 more examples

   And that mode of expression is very demurring and self-deprecating. Victorian English was all about understatement.

   2004, Rowan Manahan, Where's My Oasis?:, page 158

   Well, if he, Karl, owned a pair of pants like that it would be no trick at all to captivate the most demurring siren.

   2017, Bertita Harding, Golden Fleece

plural demurrings

1. demurral

   After some legal demurrings, it was allowed[…]

   1825, Mary Sabilla Novello, A Day in Stowe Gardens, page 264