verecund
/ˈvɛrɪkənd/
adjective
Origin
Latin
verecundus — modest, bashful
Overview
Meaning Now
- modest, shy, or bashful
- characterized by a proper sense of shame or reverence
Literal older meaning
full of shame or modesty
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
verecund
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term is derived from the Latin 'verecundia', which denotes a sense of shame or modesty that acts as a social regulator. In classical Roman thought, it was considered a virtue related to respect for social norms and authority.
Evolution
- Latin
verecundus
“modest, bashful”
Derived from 'vereri' (to fear, to respect).
- 16th century English
verecund
“modest, bashful”
Direct loanword from Latin used in scholarly contexts.
Connections
Word parts
verecund
root
modest/bashful
Related across languages
French
vérécond
modest
Spanish
verecundo
modest
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Related to verecund
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.