modesty

English

Etymology

From Middle French modestie, from Latin modestia; equivalent to modest +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɒd.ə.sti/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

modesty (usually uncountable, plural modesties)

1. The quality of being modest; having a limited and not overly high opinion of oneself and one's abilities.
   • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

     At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy ; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.

   • Modest definition

     Not bragging or boasting about oneself or one's achievements; unpretentious, humble. (1 of 4 modest definitions)
2. Moderate behaviour; reserve.

   • Moderate definition

     Not excessive; acting in moderation (1 of 6 moderate definitions)

   • Reserve definition

     A restriction.

     1. The act of reserving or keeping back; reservation; exception. (1 of 18 reserve definitions)
3. (specifically) Pudency, avoidance of sexual explicitness.

   • Pudency definition

     Modesty.

Antonyms

• immodesty
• extravagance
• impudence

Derived terms

• false modesty
• modesty bag
• modesty bit
• modesty board
• modesty panel
• modesty piece
• outrage of modesty

Related terms

• modestly

Translations