mŏdestus, a, um, adj. [modus],
keeping due measure, moderate; esp. in behavior, modest; as respects anger, calm, gentle, dispassionate; towards others, kind, forbearing, temperate, mild; in morals, honest, virtuous, sober, discreet, moral (class.): vir modestus et frugi, unassuming, modest , Cic. Att. 13, 29, 1: adulescentuli modestissimi pudor, id. Planc. 11, 27: plebs modestissima (opp. seditiosa), id. Agr. 2, 31, 84: epistula ut adversus magistrum morum modestior, id. Fam. 3, 13, 2: oculi, Ov. Am. 2, 4, 11: vultus, id. ib. 1, 4, 15: lingua, id. H. 18 (19), 63: verba, id. Am. 3, 14, 16: o modestum ordinem, kind, gentle, mild , Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 47, § 124: in ea (urbe) isti vestri satellites modesti insolentiam suam continebunt, id. Agr. 1, 6, 18: mendicis modesti, kind, friendly , Plaut. Trin. 4, 1, 12: mulier proba et modesta, modest , Ter. Ad. 930; cf.: videas, dolere rebus flagitiosis modestos, Cic. Lael. 13, 47: modestissimi mores, id. Planc. 1, 3: ingenui parum modesti, Quint. 1, 2, 4: servitia, Tac. A. 4, 7: vultus modesto sanguine fervens, Juv. 10, 300.—Hence, adv.: mŏdestē , with moderation, moderately, temperately, discreetly, modestly (class.): modice et modeste vitam vivere, Plaut. Pers. 3, 1, 18: ea quae, etiam ... cum modeste fiunt, tamen ipsa per se molesta sunt, Cic. Att. 9, 19, 1: rebus secundis modeste ac moderate uti, Liv. 30, 42: hosti intrepide modesteque obviam ire, quietly , Gell. 9, 11, 6: modestissime vivere, Varr. ap. Non. 1, 274: qui modeste paret, Cic. Leg. 3, 2, 5: intueri, Ter. Eun. 580: parcius et modestius praetentare misericordiam judicis, Quint. 4, 1, 28: si ille Romam modeste venturus est, without hostile violence , Cic. Fam. 14, 14, 1.