Word: modesty

Associations

Modesty refers to a quality of being humble and not showing off about yourself or your achievements. It can also mean dressing or behaving in a way that doesn't attract unnecessary attention.

• Example 1: "Her modesty about her accomplishments impressed everyone at the meeting." (She did not brag about what she achieved.)
• Example 2: "He showed modesty by refusing to take all the credit for the team's success." (He shared recognition with others.)
• Example 3: "In some cultures, modesty is an important value, leading people to dress conservatively." (People choose clothing that is not flashy.)

A well-known synonym for modesty is "humility." The important difference is that modesty often refers to not drawing attention to oneself, while humility focuses on having a low view of one’s importance or abilities.

Substitution

When you think of modesty, you might use other words like:

• Humility (focuses more on self-view)
• Reserve (a lack of openness about feelings)
• Simplicity (not being flashy or complicated) Using these words can change the meaning slightly, as humility is more about self-perception, while reserve indicates being less open in conversations.

Deconstruction

The word "modesty" comes from the Latin root "modestus," meaning "moderate, moderate in size or degree." It has no prefix but has the suffix "-ity" which turns an adjective into a noun, indicating a quality or state. Modesty has maintained its meaning over centuries, connected to moderation in behavior and appearance.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you showed modesty or someone else showed it?
• How does modesty differ in value between different cultures?
• Do you believe modesty is important? Why or why not?