| 释义 |
modesty|ˈmɒdɪstɪ|
Also 6–7 modestie.
[a. F. modestie or ad. L. modestia, f. modestus modest a.]
†1. Moderation; freedom from excess or exaggeration; self-control; clemency, mildness of rule.
1531Elyot Gov. i. xxv, Modestie; whiche worde nat beinge knowen in the englisshe tongue, ne of al them which under stode latin, except they had radde good autours, they improprely named this vertue discretion. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xviii. 21 He gouerned with all modestie to the great contentment of the inhabitauntes. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. Induct. i. 94, I am doubtfull of your modesties, Least..You break into some merry passion. 1601― Jul. C. iii. i. 213 The Enemies of Cæsar, shall say this: Then, in a Friend, it is cold Modestie. 1639Fuller Holy War iii. vii. (1647) 120 Richard refused..to strip poore mariners out of those rags of their estates wch the mercie and modestie of the waves and winds had left them. 1756Burke Vind. Nat. Soc. Wks. 1842 I. 20 Thus are we running in a circle, without modesty, and without end, and making one errour and extravagance an excuse for the other. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xxxi. III. 192 The modesty of Alaric was interpreted..as a sure evidence of his weakness and fear.
ironical.1839Southey Lett. 18 Feb., I am likely to recover something from Baldwin and Cradock. The trustees of their affairs had the modesty to expect that I should receive a dividend of one shilling in the pound [etc.].
2. a. The quality of being modest, or having a moderate opinion of oneself; reserve springing from an unexaggerated estimate of one's qualities; freedom from presumption, ostentation, arrogance, or impudence. † on a modesty: from a feeling of modesty.
1553T. Wilson Rhet. 19 b, Modestie is an honest shame⁓fastnesse. 1601Holland Pliny I. 172 Augustus Cæsar..expressely forbad that the Poeme of Virgil should be burned, notwithstanding that he by his last wil and testament on a modesty [orig. contra testamenti eius verecundiam], gaue order to the contrary. 1602Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 289 There is a kinde [of] confession in your lookes; which your modesties haue not craft enough to color. 1681Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 62 They would trust to his own modesty. 1711Addison Spect. No. 231 ⁋4 An Excess of Modesty obstructs the Tongue. 1712Steele ibid. No. 350 ⁋2 Modesty is the certain Indication of a great Spirit. 1779–81Johnson L. P., Addison Wks. III. 46 By the influence of Mr. Montague, concurring,..with his natural modesty, he was diverted from..entering into holy orders. 1802Med. Jrnl. VIII. 366 A desire which perhaps proceeds from too much modesty, and a mistaken deference for others. 1827Hare Guesses (1859) 6 True modesty does not consist in an ignorance of our merits, but in a due estimate of them.
†b. Humility (towards God). Obs. rare.
1557N. T. (Geneva) Acts xx. 19 Seruyng the Lord with all modestie [Gr. µετὰ πάσης ταπεινοϕροσύνης].
†c. Deferential feeling. Obs.
1598B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. i. i, There is a way of winning more by loue And vrging of the modestie, then feare. 1663J. Spencer Prodigies (1665) 77 Arguments from Humane Authority generally shew better in Rhetorick then Logick, and press the modesties of men more then their judgments.
†d. Shame, confusion. Obs.
1594Lyly Moth. Bomb. iii. i, I can neither without danger smother the fire, nor without modestie disclose my furie.
3. a. Womanly propriety of behaviour; scrupulous chastity of thought, speech, and conduct (in men or women); reserve or sense of shame proceeding from instinctive aversion to impure or coarse suggestions.
1565Cooper Thesaurus s.v., Modestia,..Virginalis modestia, Maydenly modestie & shamefastnes. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. i. ii. 55 Maides, in modesty, say no, to that, Which they would haue the profferer construe, I. 1610― Temp. iii. i. 53 By my modestie (The iewell in my dower) I would not wish Any Companion in the world but you. 1632Massinger & Field Fatal Dowry i. i, To gaine their fauors, Our chastest dames put off their modesties. 1671Clarendon Dial. Tracts (1727) 288 You talk of modesty: there hath been no man seen to blush in the court since the king's return. 1691Hartcliffe Virtues 201 In the case therefore of Conversation in general, and especially of that, which is mixt, Male and Female together, we must put on such a Modesty, as may guard our Virtue. 1699Addison in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 294 A place..where Modesty is so very scarce that I think I have not seen a Blush since my first landing at Calais. 1711Steele Spect. No. 6 ⁋3 When Modesty ceases to be the chief Ornament of one Sex, and Integrity of the other, Society is upon a wrong Basis. Ibid. No. 154 ⁋2 My character for Modesty was so notorious..that I resolved to shew my new Face in new Quarters. 1727–46Thomson Summer 1334 Check'd, at last, By love's respectful modesty. 1869Lecky Europ. Mor. (1877) II. 319 The sister of St. Gregory of Nyssa was afflicted with cancer in her breast, but could not bear that a surgeon should see it, and was rewarded for her modesty by a miraculous cure. 1895Outing (U.S.) XXVI. 8/2 They have no conception of the western idea of modesty, and go freely about in their ‘nude simplicity’.
b. A kind of veil for the concealment of the bosom (see quots.). In full modesty-bit, modesty-piece.
1713Addison Guard. No. 118 ⁋3 A narrow Lace..which runs along the upper part of the Stays before..and being as it were a part of the Tucker,..is therefore..called the Modesty-Piece. 1731Gentl. Mag. I. 289 Sometimes the Stomacher rises almost to the chin, and a modesty-bit serves the purpose of a ruff; at other times but half way, and the modesty is but a transparent shade to the beauties beneath. 1789Loiterer No. 32. 11 Their handkerchief opened on either side, and left between it a space of at least eight inches, which was occupied, not covered, by a bit of narrow lace, a part of the Ladies dress which I have since heard called a Modesty piece. c1800Songs Costume (Percy Soc.) 207 A modesty they all must have, If ne'er a smock they wear, O. 1910Westm. Gaz. 21 Mar. 5/3 The ‘modesty’ and the edge of the sleeves are of golden lace.
transf.1783Ann. Reg. ii. 14 The females [of Sumatra], before they are of an age to be clothed have what may not be inaptly termed a modesty-piece, being a plate of silver in the shape of a heart hung before.
4. Unpretentious character (of things). rare.
1906Blackw. Mag. Apr. 494/1 The straitness of their surroundings, the modesty of their homes may better be imagined than described.
Hence † ˈmodesty v. (nonce-wd.), to throw away by prudery.
1748Richardson Clarissa IV. 42 Twice already have you, my dear, if not oftener, modesty'd away such opportunities as you ought not to have slipt. Ibid. 55 You..have accused me of having modesty'd away, as you phrase it, several opportunities of being—Being what, my dear? |