N. modesty, humility, diffidence, timidity, retiring disposition, unobtrusiveness, bashfulness, mauvaise honte, blush, blushing, verecundity|, self-knowledge, reserve, constraint, demureness, "blushing honors"

V. be modest, retire, reserve oneself, give way to, draw in one's horns, hide one's face, keep private, keep in the background, keep one's distance, pursue the noiseless tenor of one's way, "do good by stealth and blush to find it fame", hide one's light under a bushel, cast a sheep's eye

Adj. modest, diffident, humble, timid, timorous, bashful, shy, nervous, skittish, coy, sheepish, shamefaced, blushing, overmodest, unpretending, unpretentious, unobtrusive, unassuming, unostentatious, unboastful, unaspiring, poor in spirit, out of countenance, reserved, constrained, demure

Adv. humbly, quietly, privately, without ceremony, without beat of drum, sans fa on

Phr. "not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty", "thy modesty's a candle to thy merit"