Humblest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A trait identified by a lack of arrogance and a focus on modesty A behavior that demonstrates an appreciation for others' contributions without boasting An attitude characterized by an acknowledgment of one's limitations while valuing the strengths of others equally
2. Exhibiting a modest quality that avoids pride or arrogance
3. Displaying a respectful and unpretentious demeanor in attitude or behavior

Etymology: "Humblest" is the superlative of "humble," so it adds no new history of its own; the story belongs to the base word. "Humble" came into English in the late 1200s from Old French "humble," which itself came from Latin "humilis," meaning "low" or "lowly." The Latin word is built on "humus," "ground" or "earth," so a humble person was, at root, someone close to the ground. That literal sense of lowness lingered for centuries. Medieval writers used "humble" for things physically low, such as a low-lying place, before the moral sense of modesty became dominant. The superlative "humblest" follows the same pattern as "simplest" or "gentlest," with "-est" marking the highest degree of that quality, and it has been in use since the same period.

Synonyms: meekest, modestest

Antonyms: proudest, arrogant