Demeanors
/dɪˈmiːnərz/
nounB2plural
Definition
Demeanors mean the usual behavior or manner of a person. It shows how someone acts in different situations, including their body language, facial expressions, and general attitude. It helps others understand what kind of person they are or how they feel.
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⚡ See It in Action
The outward way a person behaves or looks
- •Her calm demeanor helped everyone feel relaxed during the meeting.
- •The teacher's strict demeanor made the students pay attention.
- •Despite the bad news, he kept a brave demeanor.
The general attitude or manner shown by someone in social situations
- •His friendly demeanor made him popular among classmates.
- •The politician’s serious demeanor showed his commitment to the job.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "demeanors" like "behavior" (A1 word), but more about the visible way someone acts or looks in public
- ✓Picture a calm person sitting quietly and a happy person smiling and laughing; their demeanors are very different
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you meet someone and immediately notice if they seem friendly, angry, or shy by how they act
- ✓Sounds like "dee-MEAN-ers" → imagine someone showing what they MEAN with their face and body, not just words
- ✓In stories, a hero's confident demeanor helps others trust them, while a villain's cold demeanor creates fear
- ✓NOT like "thoughts" (inside the mind), demeanor is what others can see from outside
- ✓NOT like "mood" (temporary feeling), demeanor is more about the general way someone acts over time
- ✓NOT like "personality" (whole character), demeanor is the behavior part you notice first
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Behavior: the way someone acts (Use when you talk about all actions, not only the visible attitude)
- •Manner: the way something is done or the way a person behaves (Use when focusing on style or method of acting)
- •Attitude: a feeling or way of thinking shown through behavior (Use when emphasizing feelings behind actions)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "de-" (down, away) + "mean" (to have meaning) + "-or" (a suffix forming nouns) + plural "-s"
- •Etymology: From Latin "minari" meaning "to threaten," later Old French "demeanor" meaning "behavior, conduct"
- •Historical development: Originally related to conduct or way of living; now means outward behavior or manner
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe how a person appears or acts in social settings, often linked to attitude or mood
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How can a person's demeanor change the way others treat them?
•Can you think of a time when someone's demeanor surprised you? How did it affect your opinion?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Her calm demeanor helped ___ the tension in the room during the argument.
2.A serious demeanor often makes people ___ more respect in formal situations.
3.Unlike mood, demeanor usually stays ___ over time and shows how a person behaves in general.
4.When someone has a friendly demeanor, others feel ___ to approach and talk to them.
5.The manager’s strict demeanor made the employees ___ careful about their work.
6.People can change their demeanor to ___ different feelings without saying a word.
7.His nervous demeanor was easy to notice because he kept ___ his hands.