A cat lay, and looked so demure, as if there had been neither life nor soul in her.
L'Estrange.
Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her head.
Miss Mitford.
De*mure", v. i. To look demurely. [Obs.] Shak.
De*mure"ly, adv. In a demure manner; soberly; gravely; -- now, commonly, with a mere show of gravity or modesty.
They . . . looked as demurely as they could; for 't was a hanging matter to laugh unseasonably.
Dryden.
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De*mure"ness (d*mr"ns), n. The state of being demure; gravity; the show of gravity or modesty.
De*mur"i*ty (d*mr"*t), n. Demureness; also, one who is demure. Sir T. Browne.
De*mur"ra*ble (d*mûr"r*b'l), a. That may be demurred to. Stormonth.
De*mur"rage (?), n. [Cf. OF. demorage delay. See Demur.] (Law) (a) The detention of a vessel by the freighter beyond the time allowed in her charter party for loading, unloading, or sailing. (b) The allowance made to the master or owner of the ship for such delay or detention.
The claim for demurrage ceases as soon as the ship is cleared out and ready for sailing.
MCulloch.
The term is also applied to similar delays and allowances in land carriage, by wagons, railroads, etc.
De*mur"ral (?), n. Demur; delay in acting or deciding.
The same causes of demurral existed which prevented British troops from assisting in the expulsion of the French from Rome.
Southey.
De*mur"rer (?), n. 1. One who demurs.
2. (Law) A stop or pause by a party to an action, for the judgment of the court on the question, whether, assuming the truth of the matter alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the action or defense, and hence whether the party resting is bound to answer or proceed further.
Demurrer to evidence, an exception taken by a party to the evidence offered by the opposite party, and an objecting to proceed further, on the allegation that such evidence is not sufficient in law to maintain the issue, and a reference to the court to determine the point. Bouvier.
De*my" (?), n.; pl. Demies (#). [See Demi-.] 1. A printing and a writing paper of particular sizes. See under Paper.