Démaner

Démaner is a French term that refers to the act of taking off or removing something, particularly clothing. It is often used in a more formal or literary context than simply saying "enlever" (to remove). The verb démaner is derived from the older French word "maner," which meant to hold or manage. The prefix "dé-" indicates negation or separation.

In practice, démaner can be applied to a variety of objects being removed. While it most commonly refers to taking off garments, such as a coat or a hat, it can also describe the removal of other items. The nuance of the word suggests a deliberate and perhaps slightly more involved action of removal than a casual one. For instance, one might démaner a glove or démaner a jewel.

The usage of démaner is less frequent in modern everyday French conversation and is more likely to be encountered in literature, historical texts, or when a more precise or elegant phrasing is desired. It carries a connotation that can be both simple and sophisticated depending on the context. The concept of démaner is essentially about the act of disengaging something from its place or wearer.