mien

****************************************************************
It's May! Or is it "might"? Settle the dispute with our
Concise Dictionary of English Usage.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/book.pl?conusg.htm&6
****************************************************************

The Word of the Day for May 4 is:

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.)

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.





You Are Subscribed As: GCLW-MW-WOD7@xxxxxxxxx
To unsubscribe, change your e-mail address or to subscribe to the html
version of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, featuring audio
pronunciations, please visit:

http://www.startsampling.com/sm/wod/changeofaddress.iphtml

(c) 2006 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Merriam-Webster, Inc.
47 Federal Street
P.O. Box 281
Springfield, MA 01102

*mf mwt 050406 GCLW-MW-WOD7@xxxxxxxxx mf*

---
You are currently subscribed to mw-text as: GCLW-MW-WOD7@xxxxxxxxx
To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
leave-mw-text-979910Y@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx