Demeanors are acts and behaviors as in petty 'mis' demeanor. A felony is not only and act or behavior but also a directed infringement. Directed as in 'this way' or 'that way' or 'your way' or 'his way', etc....
Which also has the allusion 'to demean'. "to lower in dignity, lower the standing of, debase," c. 1600, perhaps from de- "down" + mean (adj.) and modeled on debase. It is indistinguishable in some uses from obsolete demean (Middle English, from Old French demener; see demeanor) which likely influenced it and might be its ultimate source. It was much-criticized in late 19c. by purists (Fitzedward Hall, etc.), and Century Dictionary (1897) reports "the word is avoided by scrupulous writers." Related: Demeaned; https://www.etymonline.com/word/demean
