mien \MEEN\ noun
*1 : air or bearing especially as expressive of attitude or personality : demeanor
2 : appearance, aspect
Example sentence: Professor Hart's cool and gallant mien was appealing to some students and off-putting to others.
Did you know? Like its synonyms "bearing" and "demeanor," "mien" means the outward manifestation of personality or attitude. "Bearing" is the most general, but now usually implies characteristic posture, as in "a woman of regal bearing." "Demeanor" suggests attitude expressed through outward behavior in the presence of others; for example, "the manager's professional demeanor." "Mien" is a somewhat literary term referring to both bearing and demeanor. "A mien of supreme self-satisfaction" is a typical use. "Mien" and "demeanor" are also linked through etymology. "Mien" arose through the shortening and alteration of the verb "demean," which is also the root of "demeanor." (In this case, "demean" means "to conduct or behave (oneself) usually in a proper manner," not "to degrade." That other "demean" is a distinct word with a different etymology.)
2 comments:
I stay far away from any word that looks like french to me. I will faithfully stumble over it each and every time.
I understand that sentiment, J. I lived through 2 years of high school Latin, 1 year of college French and another year of college Spanish. Mostly what I learned is that my brain does not think in foreign languages. And this also explains why I am not good in math.
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