demean

demean is a Verb

Definition:

[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.

[3] To debase; to lower; to degrade; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun. Her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist`s daughter. Thackeray.