English edit

Noun edit

humilitude (countable and uncountable, plural humilitudes)

  1. (rare, obsolete) Humility.
    • c. 1586, Sir Henry Sydney, "A Letter from Sir Henry Sydney to his Son Sir Philip Sydney" (reprinted in The Orthodox Churchman's Magazine, 1805, vol. 9, p. 361):
      [S]hew much humility, and some familiarity. . . . for high humilitudes take such deep root in the minds of the multitude (who are more easily won by unprofitable courtesies, than curious benefits) that I advise thee not to affect nor neglect popularities.
    • 1702, Cotton Mather, “[Book II (Ecclesiasum Clypei. []).] Chapter IV. Nehemias Americanus. The Life of John Winthrop, Esq; Governour of the Massachuset Colony.”, in Magnalia Christi Americana: Or, the Ecclesiastical History of New-England, from Its First Planting in the Year 1620. unto the Year of Our Lord, 1698. [], London: [] Thomas Parkhurst, [], →OCLC, § 9, page 13, column 1:
      [A] pretended Invaſion made upon the Liberties of the People vvas complained of the Deputy-Governour, vvas moſt Irregularly call'd forth unto an Ignominous Hearing before them in a vaſt Aſſembly; vvhereto vvith a Sagacious Humilitude he conſented, although he ſhevv'd them hovv he might have Refuſed it.
    • 1817, Alicia M'Gennis, Strathbogie; or, The Recluse of Glenmorris[1], page 180:
      The attending spirits that waited the voice of justice fell prostrate down, but Robin, as by superior force impelled, raised his awe-inspired eyes in deep humilitude to the centre of this bright concave.
    • 1915, Credo Fitch Harris, chapter 23, in Sunlight Patch[2]:
      "[H]enceforth I shall come into your exalted presence with bare-headed humilitude."

Further reading edit