英文词源
- modesty (n.)
- 1530s, "freedom from exaggeration, self-control," from Middle French modestie or directly from Latin modestia "moderation, sense of honor, correctness of conduct," from modestus "moderate, keeping measure, sober, gentle, temperate," from modus "measure, manner" (see mode (n.1)). Meaning "quality of having a moderate opinion of oneself" is from 1550s; that of "womanly propriety" is from 1560s.
La pudeur donne des plaisirs bien flatteurs à l'amant: elle lui fait sentir quelles lois l'on transgresse pour lui;
(Modesty both pleases and flatters a lover, for it lays stress on the laws which are being transgressed for his sake.) [Stendhal "de l'Amour," 1822]
中文词源
来自modest,谦虚的，谦逊的。
该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：modesty 词源，modesty 含义。
词根词缀： -mod-量器,模式;适中 + est + -y名词词尾 → 被保留在适当的量器内→(言行举止)有分寸的
