Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “demean” come from?

Demean comes from English mean, from Latin de and Latin dis-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -kos, with the sense developing through Latin dominus.

demean (English): To debase; to lower; to degrade; To humble,...

Definitions

  1. To debase; to lower; to degrade; To humble,...

Ancestry of “demean”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdemenen—
2Anglo-Normandemenerto lead
3Old Frenchdemenerto lead
4Old Frenchdé-—
5Latindē-—
6Latindē—
7Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
8Latinposteablative singular of postis
9Proto-Italicposti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “demean”

  • misdemean
  • demeaner
  • demeaneth
  • demeanest
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →