adj.
Pronunciation: ' h ə m-b ə l also chiefly Southern ' ə m-
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: hum · bler \ -b( ə -)l ə r \ ; hum · blest \ -b( ə -)l ə st \
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin humilis low, humble, from humus earth; akin to Greek chth ō n earth, chamai on the ground
Date: 13th century
1 : not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive
2 : reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission <a humble apology>
3 a : ranking low in a hierarchy or scale : INSIGNIFICANT , UNPRETENTIOUS b : not costly or luxurious <a humble contraption>
– hum · ble · ness \ -b ə l-n ə s \ noun
– hum · bly \ -bl ē \ adverb