Humilities

Humility Hu*mil"i*ty, n.; pl. {Humilities}. [OE. humilite, OF. humilit['e], humelit['e], F. humilit['e], fr. L. humiliatis. See {Humble}.] 1. The state or quality of being humble; freedom from pride and arrogance; lowliness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth; a sense of one's own unworthiness through imperfection and sinfulness; self-abasement; humbleness. [1913 Webster]

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind. --Acts xx. 19. [1913 Webster]

2. An act of submission or courtesy. [1913 Webster]

With these humilities they satisfied the young king. --Sir J. Davies.

Syn: Lowliness; humbleness; meekness; modesty; diffidence.

Usage: {Humility}, {Modesty}, {Diffidence}. Diffidence is a distrust of our powers, combined with a fear lest our failure should be censured, since a dread of failure unconnected with a dread of censure is not usually called diffidence. It may be carried too far, and is not always, like modesty and humility, a virtue. Modesty, without supposing self-distrust, implies an unwillingness to put ourselves forward, and an absence of all over-confidence in our own powers. Humility consists in rating our claims low, in being willing to waive our rights, and take a lower place than might be our due. It does not require of us to underrate ourselves. [1913 Webster]