Treated with disrespect or lowered in dignity; acting in a way considered undignified.
From demean (from de- meaning down + mean from Middle English menen, to conduct oneself). The verb split into two meanings: to behave (archaic) and to degrade (modern).
It's wild that 'demean' once just meant 'conduct yourself'—now it exclusively means to degrade, showing how language's most negative words can evolve when people want stronger ways to express dignity violations.
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