All 3 Uses of
demeanor
in
David Copperfield
- Mr. Dick had regularly assisted at our councils, with a meditative and sage demeanour.†
Chpt 19-21 *unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use demeanor.
- It reminded me of our old acquaintance; it seemed the natural sequel of it; it showed me that he was unchanged; it relieved me of any uneasiness I might have felt, in comparing my merits with his, and measuring my claims upon his friendship by any equal standard; above all, it was a familiar, unrestrained, affectionate demeanour that he used towards no one else.†
Chpt 19-21
- There was an obtrusive show of compassionate zeal in his voice and manner, more intolerable — at least to me — than any demeanour he could have assumed.†
Chpt 40-42
Definitions:
-
(1)
(demeanor) the manner in which a person behaves
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Much more rarely, the verb form may be used as a synonym for behave as in: "Try to demean yourself with dignity."