MODESTY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does modesty mean? 

• MODESTY (noun)
  The noun MODESTY has 2 senses:

1. freedom from vanity or conceit

2. formality and propriety of manner

  Familiarity information: MODESTY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MODESTY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Freedom from vanity or conceit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

modestness; modesty

Hypernyms ("modesty" is a kind of...):

decency (the quality of conforming to standards of propriety and morality)

Attribute:

modest (not offensive to sexual mores in conduct or appearance)

immodest (offending against sexual mores in conduct or appearance)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "modesty"):

Grundyism; primness; prudery; prudishness (excessive or affected modesty)

Antonym:

immodesty (the trait of being vain and conceited)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Formality and propriety of manner

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

modesty; reserve

Hypernyms ("modesty" is a kind of...):

correctitude; properness; propriety (correct or appropriate behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "modesty"):

demureness (the trait of behaving with reserve and decorum)

 Context examples 

This modesty of mine directed my attention to the marine-store shops, and such shops as Mr. Dolloby's, in preference to the regular dealers.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

And which of the two do you call my little recent piece of modesty?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Modesty such as yours—but not for the world would I pain it by open praise.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

It is false modesty, I know it is that, but you can make it easy for me.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Emma was in the humour to value simplicity and modesty to the utmost; and all that was amiable, all that ought to be attaching, seemed on Harriet's side, not her own.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Fanny found that it was not to be, and in the modesty of her nature immediately felt that she had been unreasonable in expecting it.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Modesty and a humble mind, said she, are the very first and rarest gifts in page or squire.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My dear Watson, said he, I cannot agree with those who rank modesty among the virtues.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Oh, don't fall back on over-modesty!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The gentleman offered his services; and perceiving that her modesty declined what her situation rendered necessary, took her up in his arms without farther delay, and carried her down the hill.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)