deportment
/dɪˈpɔːtm(ə)nt
/noun [mass noun]
1British The way a person stands and walks, particularly as an element of etiquette: poise is directly concerned with good deportment...
- Specific gestures, such as the ‘manual rhetoric’ of Roman orators, as well as the general carriage and deportment of the whole body, have been objects of study since Classical times.
- ‘Here she learnt the classics, modern languages, arithmetic and astronomy as well as dancing and deportment,’ says Byrne.
- The elderly gentleman sitting next to her is transfixed by the perfectly coiffed, frosted blonde hair, the imperious cheekbones and the effortlessly elegant, straight-backed deportment.
Synonyms
gait, posture, carriage, comportment, bearing, stance, way of standing, way of holding oneself, way of carrying oneself, way of bearing oneself;
attitude, demeanour, mien, air, appearance, aspect, style, manner
2chiefly North American A person’s behaviour or manners: there are team rules governing deportment on and off the field...
- Since antiquity, rules for deportment have guided the behaviour of the more privileged classes and those who served them.
- Employees in foreign banks are not very different except in their manner of deportment and remuneration.
- It conjures up images of upper class society, a world of fancy dress balls and rules for deportment that are anathema to my very soul.
Synonyms
behaviour, conduct, performance, way of behaving, way of acting, way of conducting oneself;
etiquette, manners, ways, habits, practices;
actions, acts, activities, exploits
informal capers
Origin
Early 17th century (denoting behaviour in general): from French déportement, from the verb déporter (see deport).