Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MOD'ERN-IZ-ER, n.

He that renders modern.

MOD'ERN-IZ-ING, ppr.

Rendering modern.

MOD'ERN-LY, adv.

In modern times. [Not in use.] Milton.

MOD'ERN-NESS, n.

The quality of being modern; recentness; novelty.

MOD'ERNS, n.

Those who have lived in times recently passed, or are now living; opposed to the ancients. Boyle. Pope.

MOD'EST, a. [Fr. modeste; L. modestus, from modus, a limit.]

1. Properly, restrained by a sense of propriety; hence, not forward or bold; not presumptuous or arrogant; not boastful; as, a modest youth; a modest man.
2. Not bold or forward; as, a modest maid. The word may I be thus used without reference to chastity. The blushing beauties of a modest maid. Dryden.
3. Not loose; not lewd. Mrs. Ford, the honest woman, the modest wife. Shak.
4. Moderate; not excessive or extreme; not extravagant; as, a modest request; modest joy; a modest computation. Addison.

MOD'EST-LY, adv.

1. Not boldly; not arrogantly or presumptuously; with due respect. He modestly expressed his opinions.
2. Not loosely or wantonly; decently; as, to be modestly attired; to behave modestly.
3. Not excessively; not extravagantly.

MOD'EST-Y, n. [L. modestia.]

1. That lowly temper which accompanies a moderate estimate of one's own worth and importance. This temper when natural, springs in some measure from timidity, and in young and inexperienced persons is allied to bashfulness and diffidence. In persons who have seen the world, and lost their natural timidity, modesty springs no less from principle than from feeling, and is manifested by retiring, unobtrusive manners, assuming less to itself than others are willing to yield, and conceding to others all due honor and respect, or even more than they expect or require.
2. Modesty, as an act or series of acts, consists in humble, unobtrusive deportment, as opposed to extreme boldness, forwardness, arrogance, presumption, audacity or impudence. Thus we say, the petitioner urged his claims with modesty; the speaker addressed the audience with modesty.
3. Moderation; decency. Shak.
4. In females, modesty has the like character as in males; but the word is used also as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. In this sense, modesty results from purity of mind, or from the fear of disgrace and ignominy, fortified by education and principle. Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of their honor.

MOD'EST-Y-PIECE, n.

A narrow lace worn by females over the bosom. Addison.

MOD'I-CUM, n. [L.]

A little; a small quantity. Dryden.

MOD'I-FI-A-BLE, a. [from modify.]

That may be modified or diversified by various forms and differences; as, modifiable matter. Locke.

MOD-I-FI-CA'TION, n. [from modify.]

1. The act of modifying, or giving to any thing new forms, or differences of external qualities or modes. If these powers of cogitation, volition and sensation are not inherent in matter as such, nor acquirable to matter by any motion or modification of it. Bentley.
2. Particular form or manner; as, the various modifications of light or sound. The treaty, in several of its modifications, was held to be objectionable. Newton. Holder.

MOD'I-FI-ED, pp.

1. Changed in form or external qualities; varied; diversified.
2. Moderated; tempered; qualified in exceptionable parts.

MOD'I-FI-ER, n.

He or that which modifies.

MOD'I-FY, v.i.

To extenuate. L'Estrange.

MOD'I-FY, v.t. [Fr. modifier; It. modificare; Sp. modificar; L. modificor; modus, limit, manner, and facio, to make.]

1. To change the form or external qualities of a thing; to shape; to give a new form of being to; as, to modify matter, light or sound. Newton. Holder.
2. To vary; to give a new form to anything; as, to modify the terms of a contract. A prefix modifies the sense of a verb.
3. To moderate; to qualify; to reduce in extent or degree. Of his grace / He modifies his first severe decree. Dryden.

MOD'I-FY-ING, ppr.

Changing the external qualities; giving a new form to; moderating.

MO-DIL'LION, n. [modil'yun; It. modiglione; Fr. modillon; from L. modiolus, from modus.]

In architecture, an ornament in the cornice of the Ionic, Corinthian and Composite columns; a sort of bracket serving to support the projecture of the larmier or drip; a dental. Encyc. Harris.

MO'DISH, a. [from mode.]

According to the mode or customary manner; fashionable; as, a modish dress; a modish feast. Dryden.

MO'DISH-I-LY, adv.

Fashionably; in the customary mode. Locke.

MO'DISH-NESS, n.

1. The state of being fashionable.
2. Affectation of the fashion. Johnson.

MOD'U-LATE, v.t. [L. modulor, from modus, limit, measure.]

1. To form sound to a certain key, or to a certain proportion. Johnson. Encyc.
2. To vary or inflect sound in a natural, customary or musical manner. Thus the organs of speech modulate the voice in reading or speaking. Could any person so modulate her voice as to deceive so many. Broome.

MOD'U-LA-TED, pp.

Formed to a certain key; varied; inflected.

MOD'U-LA-TING, ppr.

Forming to a certain proportion; varying; inflecting.

MOD-U-LA'TION, n. [L. modulatio; Fr. modulation.]

1. The act of forming any thing to a certain proportion; as, the different proportion and modulation of matter. Woodward.
2. The act of inflecting the voice in reading or speaking; a rising or falling of the voice. Encyc.
3. In music, the art of composing melody or harmony agreeable to the laws prescribed by any particular key, or of changing the key, or of passing from one key to another. Encyc. Modulation is the manner of ascertaining and managing the modes; or more generally, the art of conducting the harmony and air through several modes in a manner agreeable to the ear and conformed to rules. Rousseau.
4. Sound modulated; melody. Thomson.
5. In music, the transition from one key to another. Rush.