modeste

Forms

modestē (comparative modestius, superlative modestissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin modestus (“restrained, moderate”) + -ē.^[2][1] De Vaan derives modestus from the s-stem beside modus (“measure”), which he traces to Proto-Italic *medo- (“measure, judgement”) and Proto-Indo-European *med-o- (“measure”).^[3] Cognate with Umbrian mers (“law”) and Oscan meddíss (“magistrate”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Plautus,^[4] who in the Menaechmi speaks of one whose heart is set in moderation, and in the Poenulus of a girl who spoke modestly.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It means in a restrained manner, temperately or mildly, as Seneca speaks of receiving good fortune gratefully and with moderation and bearing bad fortune firmly.^[2][5] Seneca also uses it of natural forces, of air that flows more gently.^[2] A second sense is with respect for propriety, decorously or modestly.^[2][1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of moderation and of modest speech.^[2][4]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of bearing good fortune with moderation and of a gentle wind.^[2][5][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. In a restrained manner, temperately, mildly, moderately.^[2][1]
2. With respect for propriety, decorously, modestly.^[2][1]

Related words

• modestus
• modus
• modestia

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften