Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Demean \De*mean"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Demeaned}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Demeaning}.] [OF. demener to conduct, guide, manage, F.
   se d['e]mener to struggle; pref. d['e]- (L. de) + mener to
   lead, drive, carry on, conduct, fr. L. minare to drive
   animals by threatening cries, fr. minari to threaten. See
   {Menace}.]
   1. To manage; to conduct; to treat.

            [Our] clergy have with violence demeaned the matter.
                                                  --Milton.

   2. To conduct; to behave; to comport; -- followed by the
      reflexive pronoun.

            They have demeaned themselves Like men born to
            renown by life or death.              --Shak.

            They answered . . . that they should demean
            themselves according to their instructions.
                                                  --Clarendon.

Demean \De*mean"\, n. [OF. demene. See {Demean}, v. t.]
   1. Management; treatment. [Obs.]

            Vile demean and usage bad.            --Spenser.

   2. Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor. [Obs.]

            With grave demean and solemn vanity.  --West.

Demean \De*mean"\, n. [See {Demesne}.]
   1. Demesne. [Obs.]

   2. pl. Resources; means. [Obs.]

            You know How narrow our demeans are.  --Massinger.

Source : WordNet®

demean
     v : reduce in worth or character, usually verbally; "She tends
         to put down younger women colleagues"; "His critics took
         him down after the lecture" [syn: {take down}, {degrade},
          {disgrace}, {put down}]