humble

Adjective

• of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense)
  • baseborn wretches with dirty faces
    
  • of humble (or lowly) birth
    

• used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)

• marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
  • a humble apology
    
  • essentially humble...and self-effacing, he achieved the highest formal honors and distinctions- B.K.Malinowski
    

• low or inferior in station or quality
  • a humble cottage
    
  • a lowly parish priest
    
  • a modest man of the people
    
  • small beginnings
    

Verb

• cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
  • He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss
    

• cause to be unpretentious
  • This experience will humble him
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  base , baseborn , lowly , menial , low , modest , small , humiliate , mortify , chagrin , abase