humbled
adj1
humiliated; weakened; made to be of a lower status
- "Too oft my anxious eye has spied That secret grief thou fain wouldst hide, The passing pang of humbled pride;"1813, Sir Walter Scott, The Bridal Of Triermain:
- 1656 The Humbled Sinner Resolved what He Should Do to be Saved, title of book by Obadiah Sedgwick
2 more examples
- "I have, therefore, no resentment against the humbled House of Perevil—nay, I have regard to it in its depression."1823, Sir Walter Scott, Peveril of the Peak:
- Shakespeare's As You Like It, Act III, Scene V. "The common executioner, Whose heart the accustom'd sight of death makes hard, Falls not the axe upon the humbled neck But first begs pardon: will you sterner be Than he that dies and lives by bloody drops?"
2
Proscribed (usually qualifying a first-person pronoun) Grateful for the support of others, touched; honored, flattered.
- JJ: Are you humbled by such positive reactions from such a wide spectrum of people, from George A Romero to Harry Knowles? SP: Absolutely. Yeah, it's wonderful. ... We're very humbled and very pleased.2014 September 24, "Web Access... Simon Pegg / Edgar Wright" BBC Online
- We are humbled by the responsibility the American people have placed with us, but this is not a time for celebration.2014 November 4, John Boehner, Statement by Speaker Boehner On Outlook For The 114th Congress:
2 more examples
- I cannot adequately express my sincere thanks to the Section leaders who saw fit to take a chance on me and ask me to get involved in leadership in the Section. Thank you for being excellent role models. I am honored and humbled to serve.2015 May, C. Joyce Hall, “Humbled and Honored”, in ABA Health eSource, volume 11, number 9:
- "Anytime I win an award of any kind I am honored and humbled," Espinoza said.2015 September 12, 'HONORED AND HUMBLED' ESPINOZA TO RECEIVE LAFFIT PINCAY, JR. AWARD Paulick Report
3
Overcome with humility; in awe of the strength of another or one's own weakness
- They would continue to suffer greatly but they have a strength that is remarkable. I am humbled by them and privileged to be with them.2010 February 1, Tom Hagan 'I am humbled by these people' National Catholic Reporter
- The written word, he often argued, could only ever be a low-fidelity reproduction of the fullness of being; any text was ultimately humbled by the reality that it sought to represent.2019 November 12, Gal Koplewitz, “Amos Oz and the Politics of the Hebrew Language”, in The New Yorker:
- Derived terms
- unhumbled