Agency Dictionary
Humble
adjectivePronunciation: /ˈhʌm.bəl/
In Portuguese: Humilde
Psychology & Mind
Philosophy & EthicsWhat does “Humble” mean?
Having or showing a modest, unpretentious estimate of one's own importance and achievements.
Etymology
From Middle English humble, from Old French humble, umble, from Latin humilis, "low, slight, humble", from humus, "the earth, ground". The underlying idea is of being close to the ground. The Latin adjective also gave rise to humility and humiliate. The word displaced the native Old English eathmod. The sense of modest self-regard has been present since the word entered English.
Usage note
Often appears in the phrase "humble opinion" and in the expression "eat humble pie", which originally had nothing to do with modesty but referred to a pie made of offal (umbles).
Synonyms
- modest
- unassuming
- meek
- unpretentious
- lowly
Often confused with
- humiliated
- Humble describes a character trait of modesty; humiliated describes the state of having been shamed by others.
Word family
- humbleness
- humbly
- humility
- humiliate
- humiliation
Rhymes with
- bumble
- crumble
- fumble
- grumble
- mumble
- rumble
- stumble
- tumble
Usage examples
Being humble is not the difference between being first, second or third, being humble is about being… zero.
Concept
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Antithesisnoun
- A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
- Discursiveadjective
- Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
- vocationnoun
- A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
- Synchronicitynoun
- The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
- Treatisenoun
- A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
- Maximnoun
- A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
- Resiliencenoun
- The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, tough conditions, or shock.
- Stigmanoun
- A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
- clevernessnoun
- The mental quality of being quick-witted, agile, and ingenious in solving specific situational problems.
- rhetoricnoun
- The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
- Tangibleadjective
- Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
- collective consciousnessnoun
- The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
Also from these editions: terms
- Adversitynoun
- A state of severe hardship, difficulty, or misfortune that tests resilience and moral endurance.
- Blissnoun
- A state of supreme happiness, utter contentment, or serene, untroubled joy.
- Disciplinenoun
- The practice of training one's mind and habits to adhere to rules, duties, and self-restraint.
- Myopianoun
- A visual condition of nearsightedness, used figuratively for narrow-mindedness and lack of long-term foresight.
- Narcissismnoun
- Excessive self-love, self-admiration, and egocentric preoccupation with one's own desires and social status.
- Objectiveadjective
- Based on factual evidence and observable reality rather than personal feelings, biases, or interpretations.
- Opioidnoun
- A substance that acts on nervous system receptors to numb pain, often used metaphorically for emotional desensitization.
- Seppukunoun
- A ritual suicide practiced by Japanese samurai to preserve honor, fulfill duty, or atone for a severe failing.
- Sincereadjective
- Free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy; genuine, honest, and heartfelt in feeling or intent.
- Statuenoun
- A carved or cast three-dimensional sculpture of a person or animal, often used metaphorically for rigidity.
- Fraternitynoun
- A spirit of brotherly solidarity, mutual goodwill, and shared support among individuals or groups.
Also from these editions: concepts
- MorpheusMorpheus is a character of the film The Matrix, the one who offers Neo the choice between a red pill and a blue pill. The Agency editorial recalls that scene twice, in…
- NeoNeo is the protagonist of the film The Matrix, the one who receives from Morpheus the choice between a red pill and a blue pill. The Agency editorial recalls that scene…
- Why Not ZeroWhy Not Zero is a song by Phonte recommended in Issue.20, written in the edition as Why Not Zero? It closes the part Dose #2 - Questioning Truth, right after the author…
- DualityDuality is the philosophical and experiential concept that reality is composed of opposing yet interdependent forces and states, such as joy and sorrow, or light and…
- Echo ChamberAn echo chamber is a closed social or communicative environment where beliefs and opinions are continually repeated and reinforced while dissenting perspectives are…
- Ego DeathEgo death refers to the complete or temporary dissolution of one's defensive self-identity and subjective self-importance. It is often experienced during profound…
- Emotional GuiltEmotional guilt is an internal psychological state arising from the awareness that one has violated a personal moral standard, caused harm to another, or failed in an…
- Epistemic BubbleAn epistemic bubble is an informational network structure where relevant voices and contrary evidence are unintentionally omitted, leading to distorted perceptions of…
- PerspectivismPerspectivism is the philosophical doctrine that perception, knowledge, and truth are always conditioned by a specific subjective vantage point. It maintains that no…
- Radical HonestyRadical honesty is the intentional practice of speaking direct, unfiltered truth in interpersonal and professional relationships without evasive deceit or social…
- Self-ExaminationSelf-examination is the systematic practice of reflecting upon one's own thoughts, motives, moral conduct, and unconscious assumptions. Originating in Socratic ethics, it…