plural of modesty

English

Etymology

Calque of New Latin pluralis modestiae.

Noun
Examples
  • “We believe that this should change” instead of “I believe that […]”. (sense 1)
  • “We are thus led also to a definition of time in physics.” – Albert Einstein (sense 2)

plural of modesty (uncountable)

  1. The use of the first-person plural instead of the first-person singular to refer to oneself more modestly.
  2. The practice, common in mathematical and scientific literature, of referring to a generic third person by we (instead of the more common one or the informal you).
    Synonym: author's we

See also
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