demeanour

Everyday

Someone's demeanour is the way they look and behave, which shows their mood or character. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, a character's demeanour (calm, nervous, cheerful, cold) helps the reader understand them without being told directly. In school reports and formal speech, it describes how someone carries themselves. Phrases: «a calm demeanour», «a friendly demeanour», «change of demeanour».

Examples

• She kept a calm demeanour during the exam. tree →
• His cheerful demeanour made everyone smile. tree →
• The detective noticed the man's nervous demeanour. tree →
• The judge had a serious demeanour. tree →
• Her demeanour changed when she heard the good news. tree →
• The new teacher's friendly demeanour put us at ease. tree →

Note

UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ and Canada spell it demeanour; the US spells it demeanor. Formal; simpler: manner, behaviour.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means the way David acted, when he pretended to be mad to escape danger.

Interpretation. The story is read as David's clever escape from the Philistines, and the psalm title turns that fear into a song of trust in God.

Examples

• A Psalm of David; when he changed his demeanour before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. (Writings PSA.34.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he changed his demeanour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. (Prophets 1SA.21.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ and Canada spell it demeanour; the US spells it demeanor. Formal; simpler: manner, behaviour.