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: 1562-1650
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Modestie, n. [e.m.E. modestie, -y (1531), F. modestie, L. modestia.]
Moderation, self-restraint, decorum, propriety; mildness of temper, forbearance; modesty, reserve, freedom from arrogance. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 68/14.
We exhort ȝour modestie, gif ony thing in this tractat be obiectit to ȝow, of the quhilk ȝe [consider] … ȝour selfis innocent, that ȝe … impute that … to our ignorance 1562-3 Ib. II. 26/4.
A Christiane modestie and constancie a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitland Folio MS xxx. 47.
Modestie is termit simpilnes 1562-92 Wode's Psalter Tenor.
I am ane man of mekill modestie And thairfor syngis my part … As it efferis vnto my facultie 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 13.
Swa that the convention … be with modestie and temperance 1588 King Catechism 39.
That … nocht onlie we eschewe the infami of lubricitie or riotousnes bot also diligentlie exerceis modestie, chast frugalitie and continence 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 17a.
Modestie gangis befoir glorie 1596 Dalr. I. 106/16. c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxvi. 4.
Serve hir and sche thy constancie sall pruif Gif in hir mynd that modestie haue place c1650 Spalding I. 319.
With gryt modestie, resolving with patiens to abyd Godis good will
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"Modestie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/modestie>
