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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary mod·est \\ˈmä-dəst\\ adjective ETYMOLOGY Latin modestus moderate; akin to Latin modusmeasure DATE 1565 1. a. placing a moderate estimate on one's abilities or worth b. neither bold nor self-assertive : tending toward diffidence 2. arising from or characteristic of a modest nature 3. observing the proprieties of dress and behavior : decent 4. a. limited in size, amount, or scope a family of modest means b. unpretentious a modest home Synonyms: see shy , chaste • mod·est·ly adverb English Etymology modest 1560s, "having moderate self-regard," from Fr. modeste, from L.modestus "keeping due measure" (see modesty). Of women, "not improper or lewd," 1590s; of female attire, 1610s. Of demands, etc., c.1600. Related: Modestly. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 modest mod·est / 5mCdist; NAmE 5mB:d- / adjective1. not very large, expensive, important, etc. 些许的；不太大(或太贵、太重要等): modest improvements / reforms 不太显着的改进/改革 He charged a relatively modest fee. 他收取的费用不算高。 a modest little house 简朴的小房子 The research was carried out on a modest scale. 这个研究项目开展的规模不算太大。 2. (approving) not talking much about your own abilities or possessions 谦虚的；谦逊的: She's very modest about her success. 她对自己的成功非常谦虚。 You're too modest! 你太谦虚了！ OPP immodest 3. (of people, especially women, or their clothes 人,尤指妇女或其衣着) shy about showing much of the body; not intended to attract attention, especially in a sexual way 庄重的；朴素的；不性感的 SYN demure :
a modest dress 端庄的连衣裙 OPP immodest • mod·est·ly adv. Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English modest adj. 1 not having a high opinion of your own abilities VERBS be, look, seem ADV. extremely, very | quite | genuinely | falsely She would be falsely modest not to acknowledge that she had come a very long way since those early days. PREP. about He is modest about his achievements. 2 not very large, expensive, important, etc. VERBS be, seem Our requirements seem fairly modest. ADV. extremely, very | comparatively, fairly, pretty, quite, rather, relatively | apparently | admittedly He is looking to improve on his admittedly modest achievements so far. | surprisingly OLT modest adj. ⇨ modest (modest about your success)⇨ slight (charge a modest fee) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged mod·est \ˈmädə̇st\ adjective (sometimes -er/-est) Etymology: Latin modestus moderate, modest — more at mete 1. a. : having a limited and not exaggerated estimate of one's abilities or worth : lacking in vanity or conceit : not bold or self-assertive < the well-bred man … is modest without being bashful, and steady without being impudent — Earl of Chesterfield > < was entirely natural, modest, and unaffected in manner — Eliot Clark > < was so certain he was right he could be rather charmingly simple and modest — T.R.Ybarra > b. : diffident and retiring in manner : shy < the most modest, silent, sheepfaced and meek of little men — W.M.Thackeray > 2. : arising from or showing a self-effacing and unassertive attitude : free from exaggeration or overstatement : reasonable , moderate < the reply seems calm, modest and highly persuasive — R.K.Carr > < what nearly all newsmen were actually doing was a modest job of explaining the bald facts — F.L.Mott > < his emotions he records in the plain and modest language of the eighteenth century — Theodore Baird > 3. : observing conventional standards of proper dress and behavior : free from coarseness or indecency : chaste in thought and conduct < all the females of our family have been perfectly modest and delicate — Margaret Deland > < the pure bashful maiden was too modest, too tender, too trustful — W.M.Thackeray > 4. a. : limited in size or amount : not excessive < a quietly prosperous rural society, in which landownership, opportunity and modest wealth were widely distributed — G.M.Trevelyan > < while their means were always modest there was no trace of dire poverty — J.T.Ellis > < the galaxy of which our sun is a modest member — B.J.Bok > b. : limited in extent or aim : not showy or ostentatious : unpretentious < the day-to-day work of the scientist depends on modest working hypotheses rather than on broad sweeping theories — Eric Ashby > < press agent for a modest nightclub — Newsweek > < quite famous in a modest sort of way — Robertson Davies > Synonyms: see chaste , humble , shy |
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