humble
1. hum.ble \'h*m-b*l, '*m-\ \-b(*-)l*r\ \-b(*-)l*st\ \-b*l-n*s\ \-ble-\ aj
or hum.bler; or hum.blest [ME, fr. OF, fr. L humilis low, humble, fr.
humus earth; akin to Gk] chtho-n earth, chamai on the ground 1: not proud
or haughty : not arrogant or assertive 2: reflecting, expressing, or
offered in a spirit of deference or submissi on {~ apology} 3: ranking low
in some hierarchy or scale : INSIGNIFICANT, UNPR ETENTIOUSay suggest
virtues, HUMBLE implying absence of vanity and arrogance, MEEK the absence
of wrath or vindictiveness, but HUMBLE may also imply undue
self-depreciation and MEEK may suggest lack of spirit or a timid
submissiveness; MODEST implies a lack of boastfulness or conceit, without
any implication of abjectness; LOWLY is close to HUMBLE and may stress lack
of pretentiousness - hum.ble.ness n SYN syn MEEK, MODEST, LOWLY: HUMBLE and
MEEK m
2. humble \-b(*-)lin\ \-b(*-)l*r\ vt or hum.bling 1: to make humble in
spirit or manner 2: to destroy the power, independence, or prestige of -
hum.bler n