demiss, a.
(dɪˈmɪs)
[ad. L. dēmiss-us let down, lowered, sunken, downcast, lowly, pa. pple. of dēmittĕre to demit. Cf. It. demisso ‘demisse, base, submisse, faint’ Florio, F. démis out of joint, OF. desmis, also ‘submitted, humble, submissiue’ (Cotgr.).]
1. Submissive, humble, lowly; also in bad sense, Abject, base.
| 1572 J. Jones Bathes of Bath ii. 10 a, So demisse of nature. 1581 Savile Tactus' Hist. i. lii. (1591) 30 Among the seuerer sort Vitellius was thought base and demisse. 1596 Spenser Hymne Heavenly Love 136 He downe descended, like a most demisse And abiect thrall. 1612 R. Sheldon Serm. St. Martin's 9 Spoken vnder correction of faith, and with demisse reuerence. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. Ad Sec. xv. §6 Sullen gestures or demiss behaviour. 1837 H. E. Manning in J. R. S. Leslie Life (1921) 269, I wrote a very soft, demiss rejoinder. [1888 cf. demissness.] 1888 C. M. Doughty Arabia Deserta I. 253 Not timid as the demiss Damascene Christians. 1903 J. Bryce Studies in Contemp. Biogr. 53 By appearing too demiss or too unenterprising in foreign affairs. |
† 2. lit. Hanging down. Obs.
| a 1693 Urquhart Rabelais iii. xxviii. 237. |
† 3. Of the head or countenance: Hanging down, cast down, downcast. Obs.
| 1586 Bright Melanch. xx. 121 Countenance demisse, and hanging downe. 1634 Peacham Gentl. Exerc. i. vii. 23 Giving him a demisse and lowly countenance. |
† 4. Of sound: Subdued, low. Obs. rare.
| 1646 Gaule Cases Consc. 129 A demisse hollow muttering. |
5. Bot. Depressed, flattened.