/ dɪˈmiːn; NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
demean yourself to do sth that makes people have less respect for you :
I wouldn't demean myself by asking for charity.
2.
to make people have less respect for sb/sth
SYN degrade :
Such images demean women.
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from de- away, down + the adjective mean , on the pattern of debase .