humbly, adv.
(ˈhʌmblɪ)
Also 4–6 -umb, -liche, -li, -le, -lie. See also humily.
[f. humble a. + -ly2: cf. simple, simply, etc.]
1. In a humble manner; with humility, meekly.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 1670 (1719) Loke þat ye þonke humbely [v.rr. humblely, vmbely] Hem alle þre. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1041 Oppon ys arm ys heued a layde, & humbliche ansuered þe kyng. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1837 The Troiane full umbly tolde hym anone. 1485 Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 34 Thene sayd parys moche humbly with grete shamefastnes. a 1500 Flower & Leaf 345 With greet reverence and that ful humblely. 1535 Coverdale Mal. iii. 14 Walkinge humbly before the Lorde. 1617 Moryson Itin. ii. 279 Tyrone..kneeled at the doore humbly on his knees for a long space. 1718 Rowe tr. Lucan v. (R.), Oft he is heard to threat, and humbly oft to pray. 1846 Ruskin Mod. Paint. (1851) I. Pref. 39 He who walks humbly with Nature will seldom be in danger of losing sight of Art. |
b. Used formally in addressing a superior.
| 1483 Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 44 Humble praying your good mastership to take no displeasure with me. 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV 230 Moste humbly besechyng your highnes..that I maie have a sure saufe conduite. 1639 Marquis of Hamilton in H. Papers (Camden) 58, I shall humbly craue leiue to ade this to your self. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 258 ¶2, I do humbly propose..that another..be erected. |
2. In a low or lowly position or condition; modestly; unpretentiously.
| 1746 Tom Thumb's Trav. Eng. 105 Near an Acre of Pasture Ground..sunk gently down for several Hours, till at last it humbly settled about seventeen Yards below. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xix. IV. 292 John Bart, humbly born, and scarcely able to sign his name. |
3. Comb.
| 1654 Gataker Disc. Apol. 97 As..humblie minded and demeaned a Gentlewoman, as I have ever [known]. 1892 D. A. Clarke in A. E. Lee Hist. Columbus (Ohio) II. 668 The meek and humbly-clad Sisters of St. Francis. |