modesty

From Middle French modestie, from Latin modestia; equivalent to modest +‎ -y.

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɒd.ə.sti/

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modesty (usually uncountable, plural modesties)

1. The quality of being modest; having a limited and not overly high opinion of oneself and one's abilities.
   • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

     At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy ; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.

2. Moderate behaviour; reserve.
3. (specifically) Pudency, avoidance of sexual explicitness.

• (antonym(s) of “moderate behaviour”): impudence, extravagance
• (antonym(s) of “quality of being modest”): arrogance
• (antonym(s) of “pudency”): immodesty

• false modesty
• modesty bag
• modesty bit
• modesty board
• modesty panel
• modesty piece
• outrage of modesty
• plural of modesty

• modestly