modesty

English

Etymology

From Middle French modestie, from Latin modestia

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈmɒd.ə.sti/
  • Audio (US)(file)

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, Robert William Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326:
      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.
  2. Moderate behaviour; reserve.
  3. (specifically) Pudency, prudish avoidance of sexual explicitness.

Antonyms
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Derived terms

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