Humble

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈhÊŒmbÉ™l/
• Rhymes: -ÊŒmbÉ™l

From Old French (h)umble, from Latin humilis ("low, slight, hence mean, humble") (compare Greek χαμαλός (khamalos, "on the ground, low, trifling")), from humus ("the earth, ground"), humi ("on the ground"). See homage, and compare chameleon, humiliate.

Full definition of humble

Adjective

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 oneself; claiming little for oneself; not proud, arrogant, or assuming; modest.
• 2012, June 28, Jamie Jackson, Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal, Rosol's 65 winners to Nadal's 41 was one of the crucial statistics in the 3hr 18min match that ended in a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 triumph labelled a "miracle" by Rosol, who was humble enough to offer commiserations to Nadal.
3. 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.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• humble plant
• eat humble pie

Related terms

• humbleness
• humiliate
• humiliation
• humility

Verb

1. To bring low; to reduce the power, independence, or exaltation of; to lower; to abase; to humiliate.Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues have humbled to all strokes. -Shak.The genius which humbled six marshals of France. -Macaulay.
2. 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.Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you. 1 Pet. Ch 5: v. 6.

Derived terms

• humbler (agent noun)

Synonyms

• abase, lower, depress, humiliate, mortify, disgrace, degrade

Compare hummel.

Adjective

1. hornlesshumble cattle