humble

humble
{{11}}humble (adj.) mid-13c., from O.Fr. humble, earlier humele, from L. humilis "lowly, humble," lit. "on the ground," from humus "earth." Senses of "not self-asserting" and "of low birth or rank" were both in M.E. Related: Humbly; humbleness.
Don't be so humble; you're not that great. [Golda Meir]
To eat humble pie (1830) is from umble pie (1640s), pie made from umbles "edible inner parts of an animal" (especially deer), considered a low-class food. The similar sense of similar-sounding words (the "h" of humble was not pronounced then) converged in the pun. Umbles, meanwhile, is Middle English NUMBLES (Cf. numbles) "offal" (with loss of n- through assimilation into preceding article).
{{12}}humble (v.) late 14c. in the intransitive sense of "to render oneself humble;" late 15c. in the transitive sense of "to lower (someone) in dignity;" see HUMBLE (Cf. humble) (adj.). Related: Humbled; humbling.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • humble — [ œ̃bl ] adj. • déb. XVIe; huemble v. 1170; humele 1080; lat. humilis « bas, près de la terre »; cf. humus I ♦ (Personnes) 1 ♦ Qui s abaisse volontairement, par humilité. ⇒ effacé, modeste. « N est pas humble celui qui se hait » (Cioran). Qui… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • humble — adj Humble, meek, modest, lowly are comparable when they mean lacking all signs of pride, aggressiveness, or self assertiveness either in spirit or in outward show. All are applicable to persons and their attitudes and manners, and all but meek… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • humble — HUMBLE. adj. de tout genre. Soumis, respectueux. Il se dit par opposition à superbe, orgueilleux. Cette homme est humble. personne humble. humble priere. humble requeste. humble reverence. humble supplication. On dit en termes de civilité, Rendre …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Humble — may refer to: *Humility (being humble) * Humble Howard Glassman one half of the Toronto morning show duo, Humble and Fred *Humble, Texas, USA *Humble Oil, a petroleum company which became part of Exxon *Humble Pie, an English rock band *Humblus / …   Wikipedia

  • Humble — Hum ble, a. [Compar. {Humbler}; superl. {Humblest}.] [F., fr. L. humilis on the ground, low, fr. humus the earth, ground. See {Homage}, and cf. {Chameleon}, {Humiliate}.] 1. Near the ground; not high or lofty; not pretentious or magnificent;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Humble — puede referirse: Humble (Texas) Humble (Dinamarca) Humble Oil Company Esta página de desambiguación cataloga artículos relacionados con el mismo título. Si llegaste aquí a través de …   Wikipedia Español

  • humble — ► ADJECTIVE (humbler, humblest) 1) having or showing a modest or low estimate of one s own importance. 2) of low rank. 3) of modest pretensions or dimensions: humble beginnings. ► VERB ▪ lower in dignity or importance. ● …   English terms dictionary

  • Humble — Hum ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Humbled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Humbling}.] 1. To bring low; to reduce the power, independence, or exaltation of; to lower; to abase; to humilate. [1913 Webster] Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven s plagues Have… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Humble — Humble, TX U.S. city in Texas Population (2000): 14579 Housing Units (2000): 5908 Land area (2000): 9.867487 sq. miles (25.556674 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.013151 sq. miles (0.034062 sq. km) Total area (2000): 9.880638 sq. miles (25.590736 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Humble, TX — U.S. city in Texas Population (2000): 14579 Housing Units (2000): 5908 Land area (2000): 9.867487 sq. miles (25.556674 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.013151 sq. miles (0.034062 sq. km) Total area (2000): 9.880638 sq. miles (25.590736 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • humble — [adj1] meek, unassuming apprehensive, backward, bashful, biddable, blushing, content, courteous, deferential, demure, diffident, docile, fearful, gentle, hesitant, lowly, manageable, mild, modest, obliging, obsequious, ordinary, polite, quiet,… …   New thesaurus

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