Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Having or suited for a low rank or position.
- adjective Humble or meek in manner.
- adjective Plain or prosaic in nature.
- adverb In a low manner, condition, or position.
- adverb In a meek or humble manner.
- adverb Low in sound.
from The Century Dictionary.
- In a humble manner or condition; humbly; meekly; modestly.
- Without distinction or dignity; meanly.
- Not high or elevated; depressed in altitude, situation, or position; lying or being low.
- Not of a high order or degree; of humble rank or kind; hence, unpretending; rude; mean: as, a lowly swain; a lowly cottage.
- Humble in manner or spirit; free from pride: modest; meek.
- Synonyms Modest, resigned, submissive, mild.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adverb In a low manner; humbly; meekly; modestly.
- adverb In a low condition; meanly.
- adjective Not high; not elevated in place; low.
- adjective Low in rank or social importance.
- adjective Not lofty or sublime; humble.
- adjective Having a low esteem of one's own worth; humble; meek; free from pride.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Not high; not elevated in place; low.
- adjective Low in rank or social importance.
- adjective Not lofty or sublime; humble.
- adjective Having a low esteem of one's own worth; humble; meek; free from pride.
- adverb In a low manner; humbly; meekly; modestly.
- adverb In a low condition; meanly.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense)
- adjective used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)
- adjective inferior in rank or status
- adjective low or inferior in station or quality
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The higher up you went, and they called the lowly social worker, all hell broke up.
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Those worse off than Australia included the United States (150) and Russia, in lowly 172nd place.
Introducing the ‘Happiest Country on Earth’ | Impact Lab 2006
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So, what are we to make of the fact that various plants, and even certain lowly fungi, contain molecules that coincidentally fit neatly into certain receptors on certain brain cells so as to produce feelings of pleasure?
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So, what are we to make of the fact that various plants, and even certain lowly fungi, contain molecules that coincidentally fit neatly into certain receptors on certain brain cells so as to produce feelings of pleasure?
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And worst of all betided me, on my return, was one Who came to me, in lowly guise, to glory in my pain.
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She afterwards joined her husband at the house of his parents in Helpstone, his "own old home of homes," as he fondly called the lowly cottage in one of his most pathetic poems, and there they all remained, with the offspring of the marriage, until the removal to
Life and Remains of John Clare "The Northamptonshire Peasant Poet" J. L. Cherry
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She afterwards joined her husband at the house of his parents in Helpstone, his “own old home of homes,” as he fondly called the lowly cottage in one of his most pathetic poems, and there they all remained, with the offspring of the marriage, until the removal to Northborough in 1832.
Life and Remains of John Clare Cherry, J L 1872
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In the 19th century, it referred to a lowly schoolboy.
The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Domenick Scudera 2011
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Considering how safe, and quiet, and easy, those are that are of a humble spirit, what communion they have with God and comfort in themselves, we will say, With the lowly is wisdom.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon) 1721
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2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon) 1721
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