A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1569-1610
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Modest, a. [e.m.E. (1565), F. modeste, L. modest-us.] Of persons or their conduct. a. Modest, unassuming, decorous. b. Well-conducted, quietly behaved. — a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitland Folio MS xxix. 85.
I luif modest sobir ciuilite a1570-86 Ib. clxx. 109.
Madenis maist modest 1584 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI. 114.
Ther salbe a ouk in the monethe … spent in … meditation with sic modest, temperat and humble behaviour as effeires a1605 Montg. Misc. P. li. 9.
The myildest may, the mekest and modest c1590 Fowler II. 27/10.
That maist modest godlie and leirnit Maister Nicoll Dagleisch 1600-1610 Melvill 75.
[He] was nocht … auster, bot sweit and affable … with a modest and naive gravitie 1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII. 372.
[He] detestis … that infamous societie [and] … wald fane … [remain] … in the … conditioun of a quiet, modest, trew and humble subject
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"Modest adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/modest>
