humble
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[edit] English
Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
[edit] Etymology
From Old French (h)umble, from Latin humilis (“low, slight, hence mean, humble”) (compare Greek χαμαλός (khamalos, “on the ground, low, trifling”)), from humus (“the earth, ground”), humi (“on the ground”). See homage, and confer chameleon, humiliate.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
humble (comparative humbler, superlative humblest)
- Near the ground; not high or lofty; not pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming; as, a humble cottage.
- Thy humble nest built on the ground. -Cowley.
- Thinking lowly of one's self; claiming little for one's self; not proud, arrogant, or assuming; lowly; weak; modest.
- God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Jas. iv. 6.
- She should be humble who would please. -Prior.
- Without a humble imitation of the divine Author of our . . . religion we can never hope to be a happy nation. -Washington.
[edit] Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:humble
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
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[edit] See also
[edit] Verb
humble (third-person singular simple present humbles, present participle humbling, simple past and past participle humbled)
- To bring low; to reduce the power, independence, or exaltation of; to lower; to abase; to humiliate.
- Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues have humbled to all strokes. -Shak.
- The genius which humbled six marshals of France. -Macaulay.
- To make humble or lowly in mind; to abase the pride or arrogance of; to reduce the self-sufficiency of; to make meek and submissive; -- often used reflexively.
- Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you. 1 Pet. Ch 5: v. 6.
[edit] Derived terms
- humbler (agent noun)
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Translations
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[edit] External links
- humble in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- humble in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
[edit] Anglo-Norman
[edit] Etymology
Latin humilis
[edit] Adjective
humble m. and f.
- humble
- circa 1170, Wace, Le Roman de Rou:
- Richart fu verz Dex humble, volentiers le servi
- Richard was humble towards God, and served him willingly
- Richart fu verz Dex humble, volentiers le servi
- circa 1170, Wace, Le Roman de Rou:
[edit] French
[edit] Etymology
From Latin humilis (“low, slight, hence mean, humble”) (compare Greek χαμαλός (khamalos, “on the ground, low, trifling”)), from humus (“the earth, ground”), humi (“on the ground”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
humble (epicene, plural humbles)
