Pluralis Modestiae
When plural modestiae ( modesty plural , modesty plural ) refers to the use of a plural form (Ex .: "We did it" instead of "I've done") in order to avoid the word "I" modesty express.
The pluralis modestiae is partly equated with the so-called pluralis auctoris ('author plural'), in which the author of a text avoids the "I". The plural of modesty and the plural of authors thus stand in opposition to the pluralis majestatis .
See also
Web links
Wiktionary: Pluralis Modestiae - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
Remarks
- ^ Pluralis modestiae. In: Otto F. Best : Handbook of literary technical terms. Definitions and examples. 6th edition. Fischer Taschenbuch, Frankfurt am Main 1994, ISBN 3-596-11958-8 , p. 408.