demurring

English

Verb

demurring

1. present participle and gerund of demur

Adjective

demurring (comparative more demurring, superlative most demurring)

1. Reluctant; tending or serving to demur.
   • 2004, Rowan Manahan, Where's My Oasis?:, page 158:

     And that mode of expression is very demurring and self-deprecating. Victorian English was all about understatement.

   • 2006, Scarlett O'Hara Can Go to Hell, page 173:

     "I'm the hostess, it would be unsociable for me to leave," I said, flashing him my most demurring smile.

   • 2017, Bertita Harding, Golden Fleece:

     Well, if he, Karl, owned a pair of pants like that it would be no trick at all to captivate the most demurring siren.

Derived terms

• demurringly
• undemurring

Noun

demurring (plural demurrings)

1. demurral
   • 1825, Mary Sabilla Novello, A Day in Stowe Gardens, page 264:

     After some legal demurrings, it was allowed […]

Anagrams

• murdering