Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Humble

Hum′ble

(hŭm′b’l; 277)
,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Humbler
(hŭm′blẽr)
;
sup
erl.
Humblest
(hŭm′blĕst)
.]
[F., fr. L.
humilis
on the ground, low, fr.
humus
the earth, ground. See
Homage
, and cf.
Chameleon
,
Humiliate
.]
1.
Near the ground; not high or lofty.
Thy
humble
nest built on the ground.
Cowley.
2.
Not pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming; modest;
as, a
humble
cottage
. Used to describe objects.
3.
Thinking lowly of one’s self; claiming little for one's self; not proud, arrogant, or assuming; thinking one's self ill-deserving or unworthy, when judged by the demands of God; lowly; weak; modest. Used to describe people.
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.
Humble plant
(Bot.)
,
a species of sensitive plant, of the genus
Mimosa
(
Mimosa sensitiva
).
–
To eat humble pie
,
to endure mortification; to submit or apologize abjectly; to yield passively to insult or humiliation; – a phrase derived from a pie made of the entrails or humbles of a deer, which was formerly served to servants and retainers at a hunting feast. See
Humbles
.
Halliwell.
Thackeray.

Hum′ble

,
Adj.
Hornless. See
Hummel
.
[Scot.]

Hum′ble

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Humbled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Humbling
.]
1.
To bring low; to reduce the power, independence, or exaltation of; to lower; to abase; to humilate.
Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues
Have
humbled
to all strokes.
Shakespeare
The genius which
humbled
six marshals of France.
Macaulay.
2.
To make humble or lowly in mind; to abase the pride or arrogance of; to reduce the self-sufficiently of; to make meek and submissive; – often used rexlexively.
Syn. – To abase; lower; depress; humiliate; mortify; disgrace; degrade.

Definition 2024

humble

humble

English

Adjective

humble ‎(comparative humbler, superlative humblest)

  1. not pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming
    He lives in a humble one-bedroom cottage.
    Thy humble nest built on the ground. -Cowley.
  2. Thinking lowly of oneself; claiming little for oneself; not proud, arrogant, or assuming; modest.
    • 2012 June 28, Jamie Jackson, “Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal”, in the Guardian:
      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.
    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.
Synonyms
  • See also Wikisaurus:humble
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations

Verb

humble ‎(third-person singular simple present humbles, present participle humbling, simple past and past participle humbled)

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
Derived terms
Synonyms
Translations

Etymology 2

Compare hummel.

Adjective

humble ‎(not comparable)

  1. hornless.
    humble cattle

French

Etymology

From Old French, from Latin humilis ‎(“low, slight, hence mean, humble”) (compare Greek χαμαλός ‎(khamalós, “on the ground, low, trifling”)), from humus ‎(“the earth, ground”), humi ‎(“on the ground”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /œ̃bl/
  • Rhymes: -œ̃bl
  • Homophone: humbles

Adjective

humble m, f ‎(plural humbles)

  1. humble

Related terms

Old French

Adjective

humble m ‎(oblique and nominative feminine singular humble)

  1. Alternative form of umble
    • circa 1170, Wace, Le Roman de Rou:
      Richart fu verz Dex humble, volentiers le servi
      Richard was humble towards God, and served him willingly

Declension

Etymology

From Old French (h)umble, from Latin humilis ‎(“low, slight, hence mean, humble”) (compare Greek χαμαλός ‎(khamalós, “on the ground, low, trifling”)), from humus ‎(“the earth, ground”), humi ‎(“on the ground”). See homage, and compare chameleon, humiliate.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈhʌmbəl/
  • Rhymes: -ʌmbəl

Similar Results