demeanour
/di'mi:nə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A person's outward behavior, manner, and appearance, especially as it reflects their character or feelings towards others. It refers to the overall way someone conducts themselves, including their facial expressions, posture, gestures, and tone of voice.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- Despite the stressful situation, she maintained a calm and professional demeanour.
- His friendly demeanour made everyone feel welcome at the party.
- The teacher's stern demeanour commanded respect from the students.
Advanced Usage
- "To have a demeanour of...": To exhibit a specific type of outward manner.
- The witness had a demeanour of complete honesty, which convinced the jury.
- "In demeanour": Used to describe the nature of someone's outward behavior.
- He is gentle in demeanour but very strong in his convictions.
Variants and Related Words
- Demeanor (noun): The standard American English spelling of "demeanour".
- Demean (verb): To cause a severe loss of dignity and respect for (someone or something). CRITICAL NOTE: This is a separate word with a different, negative meaning (e.g., ). It is not the verb form of "demeanour".
Synonyms
- Bearing: The way a person moves, stands, or behaves.
- Manner: A person's outward way of behaving toward others.
- Comportment: Formal term for a person's behavior or bearing.
- Deportment: The way a person stands and walks, particularly as an element of etiquette.
Antonyms
- Essence / Nature: Refers to the intrinsic, fundamental qualities of a person, in contrast to the outward .
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To be a good judge of demeanour: To be skilled at assessing a person's character or truthfulness based on their outward behavior.
- As a seasoned detective, she was a good judge of demeanour.
Noun
- (behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people