modestus

Modestus is a Latin adjective meaning modest, restrained, or temperate. The masculine form is modestus; feminine form is modesta; neuter is modestum. The word derives from modus, meaning measure or manner, and carries the sense of keeping within proper measure or avoiding excess.

In classical Latin, modestus appears as a descriptive epithet in prose. It was also used as a personal name in some late antique and medieval Latin texts, though it is not common today outside history or literature. Modern Romance-language names such as Modesto derive from the same root and retain the sense of humility or moderation.

In biology, modestus is a relatively common species epithet in both zoological and botanical nomenclature. As with other Latin adjectives used in binomial names, the ending agrees with the gender of the genus (modestus for masculine, modesta for feminine, modestum for neuter). The epithet often connotes a modest coloration, pattern, or behavior observed by the describer, though the precise intended meaning can vary by taxon.

Modestus should not be confused with the English word “modest” or with related names such as Modesto. The term appears primarily in linguistic, historical, and scientific contexts as described.