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From: John Overholt< >
Subject: Off Topic-Humble
Date: 1 Feb 1999 11:05:58 -0800


To save Spencer from rushing to the library,the OED says(in part):

"humble (_________), a.1 Forms: 36 umble, 4 humble, (45 humbyll, 5
oumbbylle, 6 humbul). See also humil(e.
[a. OF. umble, humble (12th c. in Littr):L. humil-em low, lowly, small,
slight, mean, insignificant, base, f. humus ground, earth. The h was
originally mute as in F.; the pronunciation (________) has prevailed down to
the 19th c. See also the doublet humil(e.]
1. Having a low estimate of ones importance, worthiness, or merits; marked
by the absence of self-assertion or self-exaltation; lowly: the opposite of
proud.
a. Of persons.
c1250 Old Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc. 30 Ure lord god almichti..urch his
grace maked of o euele manne good man, of e orgeilus umble.
c1386 Chaucer Pars. T. _686 Humble folk been cristes freendes.
c1430 Lydg. Hors, Shepe, & G. 79 Vnto the wolffe contrarye of nature..is
this oumbbylle best [sheep].
1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV 194 b, Neither to wanton nor to humble.
1607 Shakes. Timon iii. v. 7, I am an humble Sutor to your Vertues.
1640 J. Dyke Worthy Commun. 130 Christ was humble, they are proud.
c1718 Prior Solomon iii. 875 Thy sum of duty let two words contain..Be
humble, and be just.
1852 Robertson Serm. Ser. iii. xviii. (1882) 241 God..places the humble
consistent follower and the broken-hearted sinner on a level.
Mod. A humble follower of the Master.

b. Of qualities, attributes, actions, etc.
c1374 Chaucer Troylus i. 68 (124) She hym thonkyd oft in humble chere.
1390 Gower Conf. I. 64 There ben louers of such a sort, That feignen hem an
humble port.
1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxxi. 130 (1845) 154 His umble service we pray "

John Overholt,
Kingston upon Thames

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