English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English humblenesse; equivalent to humble +‎ -ness.

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Noun edit

humbleness (usually uncountable, plural humblenesses)

  1. Modesty, humility; the property of being humble.
    • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter II, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
      That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence.

Translations edit