Unpretending

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Free of any show of importance or grandeur ; humble and plain in manner without seeking attention
2. Not putting on airs or claiming distinction ; quietly modest and straightforward in how one presents oneself
3. Lacking pretension or self-importance ; characterized by a simple, unaffected modesty in behavior and bearing

Etymology: "Unpretending" is simply the English prefix "un-" attached to "pretending," the adjective meaning free of affectation or show. The prefix traces back through Old English and Proto-Germanic to a very old negating element shared across the Germanic languages, where it reversed the sense of whatever followed it. "Pretending" itself comes from the verb "pretend," so the word describes someone who does not put on airs or claim more than they are. The construction is transparent. English has long been willing to add "un-" to adjectives and participles, producing many such pairs, and this one follows the same pattern as "unassuming" or "unaffected."

Synonyms: unassuming, modest, humble, unostentatious, unpretentious

Antonyms: pretentious, pompous, ostentatious, showy, affected