2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Modest  \Mod"est\,  a.  [F.  modeste,  L.  modestus  fr  modus 
  measure.  See  {Mode}.] 
  1.  Restraining  within  due  limits  of  propriety;  not  forward, 
  bold,  boastful,  or  presumptious;  rather  retiring  than 
  pushing  one's  self  forward;  not  obstructive;  as  a  modest 
  youth;  a  modest  man. 
 
  2.  Observing  the  proprieties  of  the  sex;  not  unwomanly  in  act 
  or  bearing;  free  from  undue  familiarity,  indecency,  or 
  lewdness;  decent  in  speech  and  demeanor;  --  said  of  a 
  woman. 
 
  Mrs.  Ford,  the  honest  woman,  the  modest  wife. 
  --Shak. 
 
  The  blushing  beauties  of  a  modest  maid.  --Dryden. 
 
  3.  Evincing  modestly  in  the  actor,  author,  or  speaker;  not 
  showing  presumption;  not  excessive  or  extreme;  moderate; 
  as  a  modest  request;  modest  joy. 
 
  Syn:  Reserved;  unobtrusive;  diffident;  bashful;  coy;  shy; 
  decent;  becoming;  chaste;  virtuous. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  modest 
  adj  1:  marked  by  simplicity;  having  a  humble  opinion  of  yourself 
  "a  modest  apartment";  "too  modest  to  wear  his  medals" 
  [ant:  {immodest}] 
  2:  not  large  but  sufficient  in  size  or  amount;  "a  modest 
  salary";  "modest  inflation";  "helped  in  my  own  small  way" 
  [syn:  {small}] 
  3:  free  from  pomp  or  affectation;  "comfortable  but  modest 
  cottages";  "a  plain  blue  suit";  "a  simple  rectangular 
  brick  building";  "a  simple  man  with  simple  tastes"  [syn:  {plain}, 
  {simple}] 
  4:  not  offensive  to  sexual  mores  in  conduct  or  appearance  [ant: 
  {immodest}] 
  5:  low  or  inferior  in  station  or  quality;  "a  humble  cottage"; 
  "a  lowly  parish  priest";  "a  modest  man  of  the  people"; 
  "small  beginnings"  [syn:  {humble},  {low},  {lowly},  {small}] 
  6:  humble  in  spirit  or  manner;  suggesting  retiring  mildness  or 
  even  cowed  submissiveness;  "meek  and  self-effacing"  [syn: 
  {meek},  {mild}] 
  7:  limited  in  size  or  scope;  "a  small  business";  "a  newspaper 
  with  a  modest  circulation";  "small-scale  plans"  [syn:  {minor}, 
  {small},  {small-scale}] 
  8:  free  from  ostentation  or  pretension;  "the  restrained 
  elegance  of  the  room"  [syn:  {restrained},  {unostentatious}] 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words