modesty

mod·es·ty  (md-st)

n.

1. The state or quality of being modest.

2. Reserve or propriety in speech, dress, or behavior.

3. Lack of pretentiousness; simplicity.

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modesty [ˈmɒdɪstɪ]

n pl -ties

1. the quality or condition of being modest

2. (Clothing & Fashion) (modifier) designed to prevent inadvertent exposure of part of the body a modesty flap

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Modesty 

See Also: MEEKNESS, PERSONAL TRAITS

1. As humbly as a guest who knows himself too late —Hart Crane
2. Humility is like underwear, essential but indecent if it shows —Helen Nielsen, Reader’s Digest, March, 1959
3. If you really were a hero … you made it sound routine and unglamorous, like shrugging off a ninety-yard touchdown run as “Good luck and good blocking” —Dan Wakefield
4. I looked as if I were trying to melt into the scenery and become invisible, like a giraffe standing motionless among sunlit leaves —Christopher Isherwood
5. Modest as a flower —Ella Wheeler Wilcox
6. Modest as justice —William Shakespeare
7. Modesty is like virtue; suspected only when it is advertised —Douglas Malloch
8. Modesty like a diver gathers pearls by keeping his head low —Punch
9. Modesty’s at times its own reward, like virtue —Lord Byron

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	modesty - freedom from vanity or conceit       modestness decency - the quality of conforming to standards of propriety and morality Grundyism, primness, prudery, prudishness - excessive or affected modesty immodesty - the trait of being vain and conceited
	2.	modesty - formality and propriety of manner     reserve correctitude, properness, propriety - correct or appropriate behavior demureness - the trait of behaving with reserve and decorum

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modesty

noun

1. reserve, decency, humility, shyness, propriety, reticence, timidity, diffidence, quietness, coyness, self-effacement, meekness, lack of pretension, bashfulness, humbleness, unpretentiousness, demureness, unobtrusiveness, discreetness His modesty does him credit.
reserve confidence, pride, assurance, vanity, arrogance, presumption, extravagance, conceit, indecency, boldness, egotism, ostentation, pretentiousness, immodesty, haughtiness, boastfulness, forwardness, showiness

2. plainness, simplicity, ordinariness, unpretentiousness, inexpensiveness The modesty of the town itself comes as a surprise.

3. decorum, virtue, decency, delicacy, propriety, sobriety, coyness, demureness, decorousness, seemliness, chasteness There were shrieks as the girls tried to protect their modesty.

Quotations
"Small is the worth"
"Of beauty from the light retir'd;"
"Bid her come forth,"
"Suffer herself to be desir'd,"
"And not blush so to be admir'd" [Edmund Waller Go Lovely Rose!]

Translations

modesty [ˈmɒdɪstɪ] N

1. (= humbleness) → modestia f
in all modesty, I think I could do the job better → modestamente or con toda modestia, creo yo que podría hacer mejor el trabajo
I can't tell you, modesty forbids → no puedo decírtelo, pecaría de poco modesto
see also false A3

2. (= propriety) → pudor m, recato m

modesty [ˈmɒdɪsti] n

(= absence of pride) → modestie f

[price] → caractère m raisonnable

to protect one's modesty (= decency) → protéger sa pudeur

modesty

n

(= humbleness) → Bescheidenheit f; in all modesty → bei aller Bescheidenheit; the modesty of the man! (iro) → der ist ja überhaupt nicht von sich eingenommen! (iro inf)

(= moderation) → Bescheidenheit f, → Genügsamkeit f; (of price) → Mäßigkeit f

(= chasteness) → Schamgefühl nt; (in behaviour) → Anstand m, → Sittsamkeit f (geh), → Züchtigkeit f (old); (in dress) → Unauffälligkeit f, → Dezentheit f

modesty [ˈmɒdɪstɪ] n → modestia
in all modesty → in tutta modestia