modest

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mod·est

(mŏd′ĭst)

adj.

1. Having or showing a moderate estimation of one's own abilities, accomplishments, or value: was too modest to talk about his success.

a. Having or proceeding from a disinclination to call attention to oneself; retiring or diffident: a quiet, modest demeanor.

b. Observing conventional proprieties in speech, behavior, or dress, especially in the avoidance of arousing sexual interest.

a. Free from showiness or ostentation; unpretentious: a house with modest furnishings. See Synonyms at plain.

b. Moderate or limited in size, quantity, or range; not extreme: a modest price; a newspaper with a modest circulation.

[Latin modestus; see med- in Indo-European roots.]

mod′est·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

modest

(ˈmɒdɪst)

adj

1. having or expressing a humble opinion of oneself or one's accomplishments or abilities

2. reserved or shy: modest behaviour.

3. not ostentatious or pretentious

4. not extreme or excessive; moderate

5. decorous or decent

[C16: via Old French from Latin modestus moderate, from modus mode]

ˈmodestly adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

mod•est

(ˈmɒd ɪst)

adj.

1. having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one's merits, importance, etc.

2. free from ostentation: a modest house.

3. having or showing regard for the decencies of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

4. limited or moderate in amount, extent, etc.

[1555–65; < Latin modestus restrained, decorous =modes- (s. of *modus, akin to modus mode¹) + -tus adj. suffix]

mod′est•ly, adv.

syn: modest, demure, prudish suggest conformity to the recognized standards of propriety and good taste, as in speech, manner, dress, or attitude. modest implies a becoming humility and reserve, and a taste for things that are simple and refined: a successful, yet modest, executive. demure describes a subdued and proper manner, but often one that seems affected or insincere: a demure glance. prudish suggests an exaggerated propriety and an irritatingly self-righteous air: a prudish objection to an off-color remark.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.	1.	modest - marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself; "a modest apartment"; "too modest to wear his medals" humble - marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful; "a humble apology"; "essentially humble...and self-effacing, he achieved the highest formal honors and distinctions"- B.K.Malinowski immodest - having or showing an exaggerated opinion of your importance, ability, etc; "brash immodest boasting"
	2.	modest - not large but sufficient in size or amount; "a modest salary"; "modest inflation"; "helped in my own small way" small moderate - being within reasonable or average limits; not excessive or extreme; "moderate prices"; "a moderate income"; "a moderate fine"; "moderate demands"; "a moderate estimate"; "a moderate eater"; "moderate success"; "a kitchen of moderate size"; "the X-ray showed moderate enlargement of the heart"
	3.	modest - free from pomp or affectation; "comfortable but modest cottages"; "a simple rectangular brick building"; "a simple man with simple tastes" unpretentious - lacking pretension or affectation; "an unpretentious country church"; "her quiet unpretentious demeanor"
	4.	modest - not offensive to sexual mores in conduct or appearance decent - conforming to conventions of sexual behavior; "speech in this circle, if not always decent, never became lewd"- George Santayana immodest - offending against sexual mores in conduct or appearance
	5.	modest - low or inferior in station or quality; "a humble cottage"; "a lowly parish priest"; "a modest man of the people"; "small beginnings" humble, lowly, small, low inferior - of or characteristic of low rank or importance
	6.	modest - humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness; "meek and self-effacing" meek, mild humble - marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful; "a humble apology"; "essentially humble...and self-effacing, he achieved the highest formal honors and distinctions"- B.K.Malinowski
	7.	modest - limited in size or scope; "a small business"; "a newspaper with a modest circulation"; "small-scale plans"; "a pocket-size country" pocket-size, pocket-sized, small, small-scale, minor limited - small in range or scope; "limited war"; "a limited success"; "a limited circle of friends"

modest

adjective

1. simple, homely, small, ordinary, plain, humble, low-cost, inexpensive, unpretentious, unostentatious, unimposing the modest home of a family who lived off the land

2. moderate, small, limited, fair, ordinary, middling, meagre, frugal, scanty, unexceptional You don't get rich, but you can earn a modest living from it.

3. unpretentious, simple, reserved, retiring, quiet, shy, humble, discreet, blushing, self-conscious, coy, meek, reticent, unassuming, self-effacing, demure, diffident, bashful He's modest, as well as being a great player.

4. decorous, seemly, severe, decent, proper, sober, discreet she always wore modest clothing

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

modest

adjective

1. Having or expressing feelings of humility:

humble, lowly, meek.

2. Not forward but reticent or reserved in manner:

backward, bashful, coy, demure, diffident, retiring, self-effacing, shy, timid.

3. Morally beyond reproach, especially in sexual conduct:

chaste, decent, nice, pure, virgin, virginal, virtuous.

4. Not lewd or obscene:

clean, decent, wholesome.

5. Not elaborate or showy, as in appearance or style:

plain, simple, unassuming, unostentatious, unpretentious.

6. Not excessive or extreme in amount, degree, or force:

moderate, reasonable, temperate.

7. Suited to or within the means of ordinary people:

moderate, popular, reasonable.

Translations

بَسيط، مُحْتَشَممُتَوَاضِعٌمُتَواضِعمُعْتَدِل، لَيس كَبيرا

skromnýumírněnýdecentníneokázalý

beskedensømmelig

bescheiden einfach maßvoll

σεμνός ταπεινός μετριόφρων

modesto recatado pequeño

vaatimaton

modeste réservé

skroman

hóflegur, lítilláturhógvær, lítilláturlátlaus

modesto pudico semplice

謙虚な

겸손한

kautrīgspieticīgsvienkāršs

decentnýnenáročnýskromný

skromenspodoben

blygsam

ไม่ใหญ่โต

alçak gönüllüalçakgönüllügösterişsiziddiasızmütevazı

khiêm tốn

不太大朴素的端庄的谦虚的适度的

modest

[ˈmɒdɪst] ADJ

1. (= humble) → modesto
don't be so modest! → ¡no seas tan modesto!
he's just being modest → está siendo modesto
to be modest about sth → ser modesto con algo

2. (= small) [garden, income] → modesto, pequeño; [amount, sum] → módico, modesto; [increase, improvement, reform] → moderado
on a modest scale → a escala moderada

3. (= chaste, proper) [person, clothes] → púdico, recatado

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

modest

[ˈmɒdɪst] adj

[improvement, increase] → modeste before n

[price, amount, sum] → modeste

[flat, apartment] → modeste

[person] (= not proud) → modeste

(as regards clothes) [woman] → pudique
modest clothing → une tenue pudique

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

modest

adj

(= not boastful, humble) → bescheiden; to be modest about one’s successes → nicht mit seinen Erfolgen prahlen

(= moderate) → bescheiden; requirements also → gering; price → mäßig; a man of modest means → ein Mann mit bescheidenen Mitteln; on a modest scale → in bescheidenem Rahmen; a modest crowd turned out for the occasion → die Veranstaltung war (nur) mäßig besucht

(= chaste, proper) → schamhaft; (in one’s behaviour) → anständig, sittsam (geh), → züchtig (old); to be modest in one’s dress → sich anständig kleiden

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

modest

[ˈmɒdɪst] adj (all senses) → modesto/a
to be modest about sth → non vantarsi di qc

modest

(ˈmodist) adjective

1. not having, or showing, too high an opinion of one's abilities etc. He's very modest about his success.

2. decent, or showing good taste; not shocking. modest clothing.

3. not very large; moderate. She's a person of modest ambitions.

ˈmodestly adverb

ˈmodesty noun

modest

→ مُتَوَاضِعٌ skromný beskeden bescheiden σεμνός modesto vaatimaton modeste skroman modesto 謙虚な 겸손한 bescheiden beskjeden skromny modesto скромный blygsam ไม่ใหญ่โต alçak gönüllü khiêm tốn 朴素的

modest

a. modesto-a, recatado-a.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

And never a flake That the vapour can make With the moon-tints of purple and pearl, Can vie with the modest Eulalie's most unregarded curl - Can compare with the bright-eyed Eulalie's most humble and careless curl.

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They were modest; they understood their limitations.

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This said, D'Artagnan called the host, and desired him to send his teal, tourteau, and cider up to the chamber of the gentleman of modest exterior.

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A high velvet hat, audaciously turned up in front, with a bunch of pink roses and a sweeping plume, was cocked over one ear, and, with her curls braided into a club at the back of her neck, Rose's head looked more like that of a dashing young cavalier than a modest little girl's.

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Moreover, you must remember that the beauty I possess was no choice of mine, for, be it what it may, Heaven of its bounty gave it me without my asking or choosing it; and as the viper, though it kills with it, does not deserve to be blamed for the poison it carries, as it is a gift of nature, neither do I deserve reproach for being beautiful; for beauty in a modest woman is like fire at a distance or a sharp sword; the one does not burn, the other does not cut, those who do not come too near.

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Aurelia's share of the modest Sawyer property had been put into one thing after another by the handsome and luckless Lorenzo de Medici.

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I must say, the young gentleman (for so I think I may call him, notwithstanding his birth) appears to me a very modest, civil lad, and I should be sorry that he should do himself any injury in Squire Allworthy's opinion."

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Meanwhile he held on to his modest position in a mercantile house in New Orleans, where an equal familiarity with English, French and Spanish gave him no small value as a clerk and correspondent.

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A parlor and a kitchen, a smoking-room, a bed-room, and a spare chamber for a friend, all scantily furnished, sufficed for the modest wants of the owner of the property.

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Then do they indicate the hour without mistake, and make a modest noise thereby.

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Mr Swiveller replied that he had very recently been assuaging the pangs of thirst, but that he was still open to 'a modest quencher,' if the materials were at hand.

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The pretty, modest girls are never talked about, except respectfully, among gentleman.