Overmodest Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐โโ๏ธ
overmodest
[หoสvษrหmษdษชst ]
Definition
personality trait
Overmodest refers to an excessive sense of humility or shyness about one's abilities or achievements. This trait can lead individuals to downplay their skills or accomplishments more than is socially acceptable or appropriate. While modesty is often seen as a virtue, being overmodest can hinder self-promotion and personal growth. It's important for individuals to find a balance between humility and self-confidence.
Synonyms
humble, meek, self-deprecating.
Examples of usage
- She was overmodest about her promotion at work.
- His overmodest nature made it difficult for him to accept compliments.
- Being overmodest, she refused to share her accomplishments during the meeting.
Translations
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Origin of 'overmodest'
The term 'overmodest' combines the prefix 'over-' with the word 'modest.' The prefix 'over-' indicates an excess or exaggeration of the subsequent term, while 'modest' originates from the Latin word 'modestus,' meaning 'moderate' or 'restrained.' Modesty as a concept has evolved over centuries, often being associated with virtues in various cultures. Identifying modesty as both a valuable and a limiting quality has led to the use of 'overmodest' to describe individuals who exhibit modesty to an extreme degree. The addition of 'over-' to 'modest' emphasizes the problematic nature of such extreme humility in social and personal contexts. Over time, the significance of this term has increasingly come to highlight the challenges faced by those who struggle to assert themselves due to their excessive modesty.