mien

[meen]

noun

1. air, bearing, or demeanor, as showing character, feeling, etc..

   a man of noble mien.

   Synonyms: carriage, look, appearance

mien

/ miːn /

noun

1. literary,  a person's manner, bearing, or appearance, expressing personality or mood

   a noble mien

Word History and Origins

Origin of mien¹

1505–15; probably aphetic variant of obsolete demean bearing, demean ²; spelled with -ie- to distinguish it from mean ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of mien¹

C16: probably variant of obsolete demean appearance; related to French mine aspect

Example Sentences

Schaeffer, who has the mien of Marine drill instructor, is animated and intense.

From Los Angeles Times

The directors, called to an emergency meeting at the home of the chairman of the board of the American Steel Corp., have the haughty mien of British aristocrats.

From Los Angeles Times

Russell’s powerful, at times operatic, vocals and energetic stage presence proved the perfect foil for Ron’s distinctly quirky mien and adroit facility with words and keys.

From Los Angeles Times

It captures some of the inquisitive humanity that Steinmetz, a tall and direct people’s person with a John Malkovich mien, conveys in life.

From New York Times

Possessing a round and pleasant face, Kinnear does not, at first glance, seem the obvious next initiate into a society that favors the more chiseled mien.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• countenance 
• demeanor