humble: [13] Etymologically, humble means ‘close to the ground’. It comes via Old French umble from Latin humilis ‘low, lowly’. This was a derivative of humus ‘earth’, which is related to English chameleon and human and was itself acquired by English in the 18th century. In postclassical times the verb humiliāre was formed from humilis, and English gets humiliate [16] from it. => chameleon, human, humiliate, humus
humble (adj.)
mid-13c., from Old French humble, earlier humele, from Latin humilis "lowly, humble," literally "on the ground," from humus "earth." Senses of "not self-asserting" and "of low birth or rank" were both in Middle English Related: Humbly; humbleness.
Don't be so humble; you're not that great. [Golda Meir]
To eat humble pie (1830) is from umble pie (1640s), pie made from umbles "edible inner parts of an animal" (especially deer), considered a low-class food. The similar sense of similar-sounding words (the "h" of humble was not pronounced then) converged in the pun. Umbles, meanwhile, is Middle English numbles "offal" (with loss of n- through assimilation into preceding article).
humble (v.)
late 14c. in the intransitive sense of "to render oneself humble;" late 15c. in the transitive sense of "to lower (someone) in dignity;" see humble (adj.). Related: Humbled; humbling.
双语例句
1. Now experts are extolling the virtues of the humble potato.
现在专家们都在赞美其貌不扬的马铃薯的种种好处。
来自柯林斯例句
2. There are restaurants, both humble and expensive, that specialize in them.
专门做这些菜的餐馆既有毫不起眼的也有价格昂贵的。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Spyros Latsis started his career as a humble fisherman in the Aegean.
斯皮罗斯·拉齐斯的第一份职业是爱琴海上一名地位卑贱的渔夫。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He is still the butt of cruel jokes about his humble origins.
他仍然因出身低微而被人无情嘲笑。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Anson was forced to eat humble pie and publicly apologise to her.
