adj. (demurer, demurest) 1 composed, quiet, and reserved; modest. 2 affectedly shy and quiet; coy. 3 decorous (a demure high collar). demurely adv. demureness n.
[ ME, perh. f. AF demuré f. OF demoré past part. of demorer remain, stay (as DEMUR): infl. by OF mer f. L maturus ripe ]