modesty

Everyday

1. Not boasting about yourself or your skills, even when you are good. tree →
2. Dressing or behaving in a way that does not draw attention to your body, often for reasons of religion or custom. tree →
3. Being small or not much: the modesty of their home. tree →

In the lessons

In PSHE and stories, modesty is a good quality: a modest winner says «the team did well». In religion lessons, many faiths teach modesty in clothes. Opposite: boastfulness, vanity, arrogance. Phrase: «false modesty» — pretending to be humble to get praise.

Examples

• Despite her modesty, she was the best player. tree →
• «It was nothing,» he said with modesty. tree →
• Toad had no modesty at all — he sang songs about himself. tree →
• Some people wear long clothes for modesty. tree →
• His modesty made everyone like him. tree →
• The prize-winner thanked her teachers with great modesty. tree →
• False modesty is fishing for compliments. tree →
• However he received all the praises bestowed on him with becoming modesty, and prostrating himself, said: tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: modest (a modest girl; a modest house = a small, plain house). Not the same as shyness: a modest person may be confident but does not boast.