Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: Latin humilis 'low, humble', from humus 'earth'

humble

1 adjective
     
hum‧ble1
1 not considering yourself or your ideas to be as important as other people's [≠ proud; ↪ humility]:
a modest and humble man
2 having a low social class or position:
He started his career as a humble peanut farmer.
humble background/origins etc
Iacocca rose from humble beginnings to become boss of Ford.
3

in my humble opinion

spoken used humorously to give your opinion about something
4

my humble apologies

British English spoken used humorously to say you are sorry
5 [only before noun] simple and ordinary, but useful or effective:
The humble potato may be the key to feeding the world's population.
6

eat humble pie

to admit that you were wrong about something
7

your humble servant

British English old useTCM a formal way of ending a letter
8

somebody's humble abode

someone's house or apartment - used humorously:
Welcome to our humble abode.
—humbly adverb
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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