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]