demeurez

Demeurez is a French verb form used as the second person plural present indicative and as the formal or plural imperative of the verb demeurer, which means to remain, to stay, or to dwell. In present tense statements, it means “you remain” or “you stay.” In imperative usage, it functions as a command or request to multiple people or to a single person in a formal context, as in “Demeurez ici” (Stay here).

Conjugation and usage. The full present tense of demeurer is: je demeure, tu demeures, il/elle demeure, nous demeurons, vous demeurez, ils/elles demeurent. Demeurez specifically appears in the vous form for both the present indicative and the imperative. The imperative can also be formed with the pronoun montré in polite or formal situations, such as “Demeurez calme” (Remain calm).

Quasi-synonyms and distinctions. Demeurer is used in everyday language to express physical staying (remain in a place) and to convey a sense of continuing to exist or persist over time. It can also carry more formal, literary, or solemn tones compared with other verbs for “to stay,” such as rester or rester sur place. The nuance depends on context and register.

Etymology. The verb demeurer comes from Old French demeurer, which is connected to Latin morari, meaning to delay or to linger. The form demeurez inherits the standard French vous ending for present tense and imperative in the second person plural.