Definition of Humble

1. Adjective. Low or inferior in station or quality. "Small beginnings"

Exact synonyms: Low, Lowly, Modest, Small
Similar to: Inferior
Derivative terms: Humbleness, Lowness

2. Verb. Cause to be unpretentious. "This experience will humble him"
Generic synonyms: Alter, Change, Modify
Specialized synonyms: Efface

3. Adjective. Marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful. "Essentially humble...and self-effacing, he achieved the highest formal honors and distinctions"
Attributes: Humbleness, Humility
Also: Modest
Similar to: Broken, Crushed, Humbled, Humiliated, Low, Meek, Mild, Modest
Derivative terms: Humbleness, Humility
Antonyms: Proud

4. Verb. Cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of. "The performance is likely to humble Sue"; "He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss"

5. Adjective. Used of unskilled work (especially domestic work).
Exact synonyms: Lowly, Menial
Similar to: Unskilled

6. Adjective. Of low birth or station ('base' is archaic in this sense). "Of humble (or lowly) birth"
Exact synonyms: Base, Baseborn, Lowly
Similar to: Lowborn
Derivative terms: Humbleness

Definition of Humble

1. a. Near the ground; not high or lofty; not pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming; as, a humble cottage.

2. a. Hornless. See Hummel.

3. v. t. To bring low; to reduce the power, independence, or exaltation of; to lower; to abase; to humilate.

Definition of Humble

1. Adjective. Near the ground; not high or lofty; not pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming; as, a humble cottage. ¹

2. Adjective. Thinking lowly of one's self; claiming little for one's self; not proud, arrogant, or assuming; lowly; weak; modest. ¹

3. Verb. To bring low; to reduce the power, independence, or exaltation of; to lower; to abase; to humiliate. ¹

4. Verb. 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. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Humble

1. modest [adj -BLER, -BLEST] / to reduce the pride of [v -BLED, -BLING, -BLES] - See also: modest

Medical Definition of Humble

1. 1. Near the ground; not high or lofty; not pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming; as, a humble cottage. "THy humble nest built on the ground." (Cowley) 2. 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; waek; modest. "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, a species of sensitive plant, of the genus Mimosa (M. Sensitiva). To eat humble pie, to endure mortification; to submit or apologize abjectly; to yield passively to insult or humilitation; 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. Origin: F, fr. L. Humilis on the ground, low, fr. Humus the earth, ground. See Homage, and cf. Chameleon, Humiliate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Humble

humanoid
humanoids
humanosphere
humans
humanzee
humanzees
humas
humate
humates
humation
humations
humberstonite
humbird
humbirds
humble (current term)
humble-bee
humble-bees
humble pie
humble plant
humblebee
humblebees
humbled
humblehead
humbleness
humblenesses
humbler
humblers
humbles

Literary usage of Humble

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Nature by Norman Lockyer, Nature Publishing Group (1875)
"Both are adapted to cross-fertilisation by humble-bees, which, inserting their proboscis into the comparatively wide entrance of the upper lip (e, Fig. ..."

2. The American Historical Review by American Historical Association (1904)
"If the humble Petition and Advice actually brought "settlement" to the nation, even those who were originally discontented with it would soon give in their ..."

3. The Confessions of St. Augustine by Augustine, Thomas, Edward Bouverie Pusey, William Benham (1909)
"For as humble St. Francis saith, " What each one is in Thine eyes, ... CHAPTER LI That we must give ourselves to humble works when we are unequal to those ..."

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