humble
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈhʌmbəl/
ipa: /ˈʌmbəl/
rhymes: -ʌmbəl
Forms: form: humbler
form: more humble
form: humblest
form: most humble
Etymology: From Middle English humble, from Old French humble, umble, humle, from Latin humilis (“low, slight, hence mean, humble”) (compare Greek χαμηλός (khamēlós, “on the ground, low, trifling”)), from humus (“the earth, ground”), humi (“on the ground”). See homage, and compare chameleon, humiliate. Displaced native Old English ēaþmōd.
Senses: examples: text: He lives in a humble one-bedroom cottage.
text: 17th century, Abraham Cowley, The Shortness of Life and Uncertainty of Riches
The wise example of the heavenly lark.
Thy fellow poet, Cowley, mark,
Above the clouds let thy proud music sound,
Thy humble nest build on the ground.
text: Roominess and unroominess in a human dwelling, even of the humblest kind, are important matters in their bearing upon man's character.
ref: 1894, Irish Builder and Engineer, volume 36, page 147:
text: Undoubtedly it can be said that the humble 0-6-0 has been the backbone for general service, or general utility on British railways right from their earliest days, and is likely to remain so.
ref: 1945 November and December, H. C. Casserley, “Random Reflections on British Locomotive Types—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 320:
text: Lucky that my lips not only mumble / They spill kisses like a fountain / Lucky that my breasts are small and humble / So you don't confuse 'em with mountains
ref: 2001 August 30, Shakira, “Whenever, Wherever”, in Laundry Service:
glosses: Not pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming.
examples: text: But he giueth more grace, wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proude, but giueth grace vnto the humble.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, James 4:6:
text: She ſhould be humble, who would pleaſe;
 And ſhe muſt ſuffer, who can love.
ref: a. 1722 (date written), Matthew Prior, “Cloe Jealous”, in The Poetical Works of Matthew Prior […], volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan, […], published 1779, →OCLC, stanza V, page 109:
text: Rosol's 65 winners to Nadal's 41 was one of the crucial statistics in the 3hr 18min match that ended in a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 triumph labelled a "miracle" by Rosol, who was humble enough to offer commiserations to Nadal.
ref: 2012 June 28, Jamie Jackson, “Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal”, in The Guardian, London:
synonyms: unassuming
modest
glosses: Having a low opinion of oneself; not proud, arrogant, or assuming; modest.
Synonyms: word: abased
word: demure
word: diffident
word: humble
word: humble-hearted
word: low
word: meek
word: mild
word: modest
word: resigned
word: self-effacing
word: unpretentious
word: verecund
Hyponyms: word: overmeek
word: overmodest
Derived terms: eat humble pie
enhumble
humblebrag
humblehead
humble-hearted
humble-heartedness
humbleness
humble pie
humble plant
humblesome
humblesse
humblify
humblish
in my humble opinion
unhumble
unhumbleness
Related terms: word: humbleness
word: humiliate
word: humiliation
word: humility
word: ashamed
word: dejected
word: embarrassed
word: lowly
word: reserved
word: servile
word: submissive
word: cautious
word: moderate
word: shy