modesty
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English
Etymology
From Middle French modestie, from Latin modestia; equivalent to modest + -y.
Pronunciation
Noun
modesty (usually uncountable, plural modesties)
- 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.
- Moderate behaviour; reserve.
- (specifically) Pudency, avoidance of sexual explicitness.
Antonyms
- (antonym(s) of "moderate behaviour"): impudence, extravagance
- (antonym(s) of "quality of being modest"): arrogance
- (antonym(s) of "pudency"): immodesty
Derived terms
- false modesty
- modesty bag
- modesty bit
- modesty board
- modesty panel
- modesty piece
- outrage of modesty
- plural of modesty
Related terms
Translations
the quality of being modest
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moderate behaviour; reserve
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pudency, avoidance of sexual explicitness
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