Lewis & Short

mŏdestĭa, ae, f. [modestus], moderateness, moderation; esp. in one’s behavior, unassuming conduct, modesty (opp. immodestia, superbia, licentia; class.).

  1. I. In gen.: eam virtutem Graeci σωφροσύνην vocant: quam soleo equidem tum temperantiam, tum moderationem appellare, nonnumquam etiam modestiam, Cic. Tusc. 3, 8, 16; cf.: modestia est in animo continens moderatio cupiditatum, Auct. Her. 3, 2, 3: rectum dividitur in prudentiam, justitiam, fortitudinem, modestiam, id. ib.: disserebat de suā modestiā, want of confidence in himself, Tac. A. 1, 11 init.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. Unassuming conduct, discretion, moderation, sobriety of behavior (the predom. signif. of the word): sarta tecta tua precepta usque habui mea modestia, Plaut. Trin. 2, 2, 36: sine modo et modestia, id. Bacch. 4, 3, 2: temperantiae partes sunt continentia, clementia, modestia, Cic. Inv. 2, 54, 164; cf.: modestia est, per quam pudor honestus claram et stabilem comparat auctoritatem, id. ib.: non minus se in milite modestiam et continentiam, quam virtutem et animi magnitudinem desiderare, Caes. B. G. 7, 52: in dicendo, Cic. Phil. 2, 5, 10: modestia et humanitas, id. Att. 7, 5, 2: neque modum, neque modestiam victores habent, Sall. C. 11, 4.
    2. B.
      1. 1. Shame, shamefacedness, modesty: et sententiarum et compositionis et vocis et vultūs modestia, Quint. 4, 1, 55: virginalis, Pac. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 31, 66; cf.: primaeque modestia culpae Confundit vultus, Stat. Th. 2, 232; poet.: vacui lecti, i. e. (chaste) celibacy, id. Silv. 1, 2, 162.
      2. 2. Sense of honor, honor, dignity: neque sumptui, neque modestiae suae parcere, Sall. C. 14, 6.
    3. C. As a transl. of the Gr. εὐταξία, in the lang. of the Stoics, the quality of saying and doing everything in the proper place and at the proper time, correctness of conduct, propriety: sic fit, ut modestia haec, quam ita interpretamur, ut dixi, scientia sit opportunitatis idoneo rum ad agendum temporum, Cic. Off. 1, 40, 142 (v. the entire context).
    4. D. (Post-Aug)
      1. 1. Of the weather, mildness: hiemis, Tac. A. 12, 43 (cf.: clementia hiemis, Col. 5, 5, 6).
      2. 2. Of the course of a stream, gentleness: aquarum modestia, gentle course, Plin. 6, 20, 23, § 71.