demure
adjective

- reserved, modest, and shy

- (especially of women) quiet and well behaved

- (of clothing) giving a modest appearance

Oxford Languages, Cambridge Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

The word "demure" has an interesting etymology that traces back to the Old French word meur or mûr, meaning "mature", "serious", or "grave". This is connected to the Latin word maturus, which means "ripe" or "mature."

The prefix de- in Old French could have been added to meur to emphasize the seriousness or maturity, forming "demure".

The term was adopted into Middle English around the 14th century. Initially, "demure" described someone as sober or serious in manner. This meaning still persists but has shifted slightly over time to take on a connotation of modesty, particularly in the context of behaviour or dress, often with an implication of being quietly reserved.

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STILL SHOCKING AFTER 500 YEARS!

From Florence to Florida, Michelangelo's David has been turning heads and raising the eyebrows of demure ladies for over 500 years. This masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture, celebrated for its artistic brilliance, has also been a lightning rod for controversy because of its nudity.

When David was unveiled in Florence in 1504, it was immediately adorned with a copper leaf garland,...

"Per ordine della Santa Sede, tutte le rappresentazioni di nudità nelle opere d'arte sacra devono essere modificate per riflettere la decenza e la modestia cristiana. Si ordina che le parti del corpo esposte siano coperte adeguatamente con foglie di fico o altri drappi idonei, al fine di preservare la purezza e il decoro delle immagini sacre."

"By order of the Holy See, all representations of nudity in sacred artworks must be altered to reflect Christian decency and modesty. It is decreed that exposed body parts should be adequately covered with fig leaves or other suitable drapery, in order to preserve the purity and decorum of sacred images."

Centuries later, the statue's nudity still had the power to shock. When Queen Victoria received a plaster replica of David in 1857, she was reportedly aghast at its explicit nature. The solution? A removable fig leaf, strategically placed to shield delicate royal sensibilities during visits to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

This pattern of censorship has persisted to the present day. In 2023, a Florida school principal was forced to resign after showing images of the statue to art students, sparking outrage among some parents. It seems that even after five centuries, some folks are still not quite sure how to handle the naked truth.

Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

a shrinking violet, affected, bashful, blushing, button down, buttoned-up, coy, decorous, DEMURE, docile, guarded, humble, inhibited, introverted, keeping to oneself, like a turtle in its shell, low-key, meek, mild, modest, mouse-like, mousy, not one to blow their own trumpet, playing it close to the vest, prim, proper, quiet, reserved, reticent, retiring, sedate, sheepish, shy, soft-spoken, subdued, timid, unassuming, unassertive, unobtrusive, unpretentious, wallflower, withdrawn

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

"During the discussion, her DEMURE voice barely rose above a whisper."

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