See modicum in All languages combined, or Wiktionary
Download JSON data for modicum meaning in English (18.2kB)
{
"antonyms": [
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "lot"
}
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*med-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "modicum"
},
"expansion": "Middle English modicum",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "modicum",
"t": "a little, a small amount"
},
"expansion": "Latin modicum (“a little, a small amount”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "noun"
},
"expansion": "noun",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "neuter"
},
"expansion": "neuter",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "la",
"2": "modicus",
"t": "moderate; restrained, temperate; reasonable"
},
"expansion": "modicus (“moderate; restrained, temperate; reasonable”)",
"name": "m"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "la",
"2": "-cum",
"pos": "suffix forming neuter nouns"
},
"expansion": "-cum (suffix forming neuter nouns)",
"name": "m"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "la",
"2": "modus",
"t": "a measure; a bound, limit"
},
"expansion": "modus (“a measure; a bound, limit”)",
"name": "m"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*med-",
"t": "to measure"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "adjective"
},
"expansion": "adjective",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "la",
"2": "-icus",
"pos": "suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives"
},
"expansion": "-icus (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives)",
"name": "m"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "modica"
},
"expansion": "modica",
"name": "m"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "modica"
},
"expansion": "Latin modica",
"name": "der"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Late Middle English modicum, borrowed from Latin modicum (“a little, a small amount”), a noun use of the neuter form of modicus (“moderate; restrained, temperate; reasonable”) + -cum (suffix forming neuter nouns). Modicus is derived from modus (“a measure; a bound, limit”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure”)) + -icus (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives).\nThe plural form modica is derived from Latin modica.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "modicums",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
},
{
"form": "modica",
"tags": [
"plural",
"rare"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "s",
"2": "modica",
"pl2qual": "rare"
},
"expansion": "modicum (plural modicums or (rare) modica)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"mod‧i‧cum"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"antonyms": [
{
"word": "lot"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"kind": "other",
"name": "Cantonese terms with redundant transliterations",
"parents": [
"Terms with redundant transliterations",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w"
},
{
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w"
},
{
"kind": "other",
"name": "Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations",
"parents": [
"Terms with redundant transliterations",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"text": "Unable to garner even a modicum of support for his plan, he conceded to follow the others.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1607, T[homas] W[alkington], “That a Diet is to bee Obserued of Eueryone”, in The Optick Glasse of Hvmors. Or The Touchstone of a Golden Temperature, or the Philosophers Stone to Make a Golden Temper. […], London: […] Iohn Windet for Martin Clerke, […], →OCLC, page 25",
"text": "He [Clement of Alexandria] ſhewes alſo that it is better (if a man do drinke) to take wine at ſupper than at dinner, yet a little modicum [...].",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1708 August 8–10, “Q. I desire your Opinions, whether you think it agreeable to the Laws of Humanity to kill a Man, that Assaults us on the High Way.”, in [Aaron Hill and Marshall Smith], editors, The British Apollo, or, Curious Amusements for the Ingenious. […], volume I, number 49, London: […] J. Mayo, […], →OCLC, column 1",
"text": "For as a Poor Man has as Juſt a Title to the ſmall Modicum he enjoys, as has the Rich Man to his large Poſſeſſions; ſo the Travailer has as good a Title to his Money, as has the Robber to his Life.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1836, [Thomas Carlyle], “Memoir of Burns”, in “The Ettrick Shepherd” [pseudonym; James Hogg] and William Motherwell, editors, The Works of Robert Burns, volume V, Glasgow, Edinburgh: Archibald Fullarton, and Co. […], →OCLC, chapter XII (General Character of Burns), page 227",
"text": "By the great, also, he [Robert Burns] was treated in the customary fashion, entertained at their tables, and dismissed. Certain modica of pudding and praise are from time to time gladly exchanged for the fascination of his presence, which exchange once effected, the bargain is finished, and each party goes off his several way.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1851 August, “Infirmities of Media”, in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, volume III, number 15, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 327, column 1",
"text": "And time would fail us to enumerate the hundreds of lesser spirits who have employed their small modica of light, which they mistook for genius, as lamps allowing them to see their way more clearly down to the chambers of death.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1947 January 29, Theodore R. Iserman (witness), “Statement of Theodore R. Iserman, Attorney at Law, New York, N.Y.”, in Labor Relations Program: Hearings before the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, United States Senate, Eightieth Congress, First Session, on S. 55 and S.J. Res. 22 […], part 1, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 131",
"text": "We propose, and it is in Senator [Joseph Hurst] Ball's bill, I believe, that this [National Labor Relations] Board has got to stop deciding its cases on scintillas of evidence and imponderables and modicums and inferences, and stick to the facts.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1988, Terry Gilliam, Charles McKeown, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, spoken by Baron Munchausen (John Neville)",
"text": "I have learned from experience that a modicum of snuff can be most efficacious.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2003, Fergus Fleming, “‘It is the Hour of My Death’”, in The Sword and the Cross: Two Men and an Empire of Sand, New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, page 269",
"text": "He drinks iced lemonade through a long straw, without moving, without even shifting his head, and thereby gains a modicum of inner coolness.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2011, Thomas Thwaites, “Deconstruction”, in Sara Bader, editor, The Toaster Project: Or A Heroic Attempt to Build a Simple Electrical Appliance from Scratch, New York, N.Y.: Princeton Architectural Press, page 34",
"text": "Perhaps the majority of human endeavour can be reduced to the pursuit of additional modicums of comfort—like being slightly less tired, being slightly less bored, or just an evenly crispy piece of toast—small trifles, to which we quickly become accustomed.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2023 February 8, Christian Wolmar, “Pressing issues to help Eurostar fulfil its ambitions”, in RAIL, number 976, page 38",
"text": "Now, anyone with a modicum of knowledge of the rail network and of union feeling on this matter will have realised that this was another way of saying 'no deal'.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A modest, small, or trifling amount."
],
"hyponyms": [
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"tags": [
"idiomatic"
],
"word": "peanuts"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "pittance"
}
],
"id": "en-modicum-en-noun-ih-jcfiv",
"links": [
[
"modest",
"modest"
],
[
"small",
"small"
],
[
"trifling",
"trifling#Adjective"
],
[
"amount",
"amount#Noun"
]
],
"related": [
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "nothing"
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "iota"
},
{
"word": "jot"
},
{
"word": "tittle"
},
{
"word": "modicum"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "ace"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "atom"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "bissel"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "bit"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "crumb"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "dab"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "damn"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "dash"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "diddly"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "dot"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "drop"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "dusting"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "fleck"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "flyspeck"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "grain"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"tags": [
"British",
"idiomatic"
],
"word": "halfpennyworth"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "hint"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "inch"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "iota"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "jot"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "lick"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "mite"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "modicum"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "molecule"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "morceau"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "morsel"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "mote"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "ooch"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "ounce"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "particle"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"tags": [
"British",
"idiomatic"
],
"word": "pennyworth"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "piece"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "pinch"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"tags": [
"archaic"
],
"word": "scantling"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "scintilla"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "scooch"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "scrap"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "scruple"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "shred"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "skoosh"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "skosh"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "smattering"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "smidge"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "smidgen"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "soupçon"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "speck"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "speckle"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "spot"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "sprinkle"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "sprinkling"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "tad"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "tidbit"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "tidge"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "tittle"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "touch"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "trace"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "trifle"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"tags": [
"British",
"idiomatic"
],
"word": "tuppence worth"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "whiff"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "whit"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "nazr",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "نَزْر"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "malko količestvo",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "малко количество"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "minimalno količestvo",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "минимално количество"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "borrall"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "bri"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "engruna"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "mica"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "mínim"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "pizca"
},
{
"code": "yue",
"lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
"roman": "siu² loeng⁶",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "少量"
},
{
"code": "hak",
"lang": "Hakka Chinese",
"roman": "séu-liong",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "少量"
},
{
"code": "nan-hbl",
"lang": "Chinese",
"roman": "chió-liōng, chió-liāng, sió-liōng",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"Hokkien"
],
"word": "少量"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "shǎoliàng",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "少量"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "beetje"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "weinigje"
},
{
"code": "fo",
"lang": "Faroese",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "lítiô sindur"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "rahtu"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "hippu"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "hiukka"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "hiven"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "minimum"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "modicum"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "montant modique"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "Bisschen"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Hauch"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Spur"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Winzigkeit"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "Mindestmaß"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "egy kevés"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "kevéske"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "cseppnyi"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "egy csepp/csöpp"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "szemernyi"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "un po' di"
},
{
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "choppiri",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "ちょっぴり"
},
{
"alt": "しょうりょう",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "shōryō",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "少量"
},
{
"code": "la",
"lang": "Latin",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "modicum"
},
{
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Maori",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "kanhe"
},
{
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Maori",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "takutakunga"
},
{
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Maori",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "taunga"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "bocadinho"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "mínimo"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "pingo"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "um pouco de"
},
{
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "minimum"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "čútočka",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "чу́точка"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "málostʹ",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "ма́лость"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "ničtožno kolíčestvo",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "ничтожно коли́чество"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "ápice"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "mínimo"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "pizca"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "resquicio"
},
{
"code": "sw",
"lang": "Swahili",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"class-7",
"class-8"
],
"word": "kiasi"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "gnutta"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "uns"
},
{
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "nebze"
},
{
"code": "yi",
"lang": "Yiddish",
"roman": "shpur",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "שפּור"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈmɒdɪkəm/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈmɑdɪkəm/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/-də-/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"audio": "En-us-modicum.mp3",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/En-us-modicum.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/68/En-us-modicum.mp3/En-us-modicum.mp3.ogg",
"tags": [
"General-American"
],
"text": "Audio (GA)"
}
],
"word": "modicum"
}
{
"antonyms": [
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "lot"
}
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*med-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "modicum"
},
"expansion": "Middle English modicum",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "modicum",
"t": "a little, a small amount"
},
"expansion": "Latin modicum (“a little, a small amount”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "noun"
},
"expansion": "noun",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "neuter"
},
"expansion": "neuter",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "la",
"2": "modicus",
"t": "moderate; restrained, temperate; reasonable"
},
"expansion": "modicus (“moderate; restrained, temperate; reasonable”)",
"name": "m"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "la",
"2": "-cum",
"pos": "suffix forming neuter nouns"
},
"expansion": "-cum (suffix forming neuter nouns)",
"name": "m"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "la",
"2": "modus",
"t": "a measure; a bound, limit"
},
"expansion": "modus (“a measure; a bound, limit”)",
"name": "m"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*med-",
"t": "to measure"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "adjective"
},
"expansion": "adjective",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "la",
"2": "-icus",
"pos": "suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives"
},
"expansion": "-icus (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives)",
"name": "m"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "modica"
},
"expansion": "modica",
"name": "m"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "modica"
},
"expansion": "Latin modica",
"name": "der"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Late Middle English modicum, borrowed from Latin modicum (“a little, a small amount”), a noun use of the neuter form of modicus (“moderate; restrained, temperate; reasonable”) + -cum (suffix forming neuter nouns). Modicus is derived from modus (“a measure; a bound, limit”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure”)) + -icus (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives).\nThe plural form modica is derived from Latin modica.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "modicums",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
},
{
"form": "modica",
"tags": [
"plural",
"rare"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "s",
"2": "modica",
"pl2qual": "rare"
},
"expansion": "modicum (plural modicums or (rare) modica)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"mod‧i‧cum"
],
"hyponyms": [
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"tags": [
"idiomatic"
],
"word": "peanuts"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "pittance"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"related": [
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "nothing"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"antonyms": [
{
"word": "lot"
}
],
"categories": [
"Cantonese terms with redundant transliterations",
"English 3-syllable words",
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English nouns with irregular plurals",
"English terms derived from Latin",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
"English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *med-",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"English terms with IPA pronunciation",
"English terms with audio links",
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with usage examples",
"Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations"
],
"examples": [
{
"text": "Unable to garner even a modicum of support for his plan, he conceded to follow the others.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1607, T[homas] W[alkington], “That a Diet is to bee Obserued of Eueryone”, in The Optick Glasse of Hvmors. Or The Touchstone of a Golden Temperature, or the Philosophers Stone to Make a Golden Temper. […], London: […] Iohn Windet for Martin Clerke, […], →OCLC, page 25",
"text": "He [Clement of Alexandria] ſhewes alſo that it is better (if a man do drinke) to take wine at ſupper than at dinner, yet a little modicum [...].",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1708 August 8–10, “Q. I desire your Opinions, whether you think it agreeable to the Laws of Humanity to kill a Man, that Assaults us on the High Way.”, in [Aaron Hill and Marshall Smith], editors, The British Apollo, or, Curious Amusements for the Ingenious. […], volume I, number 49, London: […] J. Mayo, […], →OCLC, column 1",
"text": "For as a Poor Man has as Juſt a Title to the ſmall Modicum he enjoys, as has the Rich Man to his large Poſſeſſions; ſo the Travailer has as good a Title to his Money, as has the Robber to his Life.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1836, [Thomas Carlyle], “Memoir of Burns”, in “The Ettrick Shepherd” [pseudonym; James Hogg] and William Motherwell, editors, The Works of Robert Burns, volume V, Glasgow, Edinburgh: Archibald Fullarton, and Co. […], →OCLC, chapter XII (General Character of Burns), page 227",
"text": "By the great, also, he [Robert Burns] was treated in the customary fashion, entertained at their tables, and dismissed. Certain modica of pudding and praise are from time to time gladly exchanged for the fascination of his presence, which exchange once effected, the bargain is finished, and each party goes off his several way.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1851 August, “Infirmities of Media”, in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, volume III, number 15, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 327, column 1",
"text": "And time would fail us to enumerate the hundreds of lesser spirits who have employed their small modica of light, which they mistook for genius, as lamps allowing them to see their way more clearly down to the chambers of death.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1947 January 29, Theodore R. Iserman (witness), “Statement of Theodore R. Iserman, Attorney at Law, New York, N.Y.”, in Labor Relations Program: Hearings before the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, United States Senate, Eightieth Congress, First Session, on S. 55 and S.J. Res. 22 […], part 1, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 131",
"text": "We propose, and it is in Senator [Joseph Hurst] Ball's bill, I believe, that this [National Labor Relations] Board has got to stop deciding its cases on scintillas of evidence and imponderables and modicums and inferences, and stick to the facts.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1988, Terry Gilliam, Charles McKeown, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, spoken by Baron Munchausen (John Neville)",
"text": "I have learned from experience that a modicum of snuff can be most efficacious.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2003, Fergus Fleming, “‘It is the Hour of My Death’”, in The Sword and the Cross: Two Men and an Empire of Sand, New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, page 269",
"text": "He drinks iced lemonade through a long straw, without moving, without even shifting his head, and thereby gains a modicum of inner coolness.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2011, Thomas Thwaites, “Deconstruction”, in Sara Bader, editor, The Toaster Project: Or A Heroic Attempt to Build a Simple Electrical Appliance from Scratch, New York, N.Y.: Princeton Architectural Press, page 34",
"text": "Perhaps the majority of human endeavour can be reduced to the pursuit of additional modicums of comfort—like being slightly less tired, being slightly less bored, or just an evenly crispy piece of toast—small trifles, to which we quickly become accustomed.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2023 February 8, Christian Wolmar, “Pressing issues to help Eurostar fulfil its ambitions”, in RAIL, number 976, page 38",
"text": "Now, anyone with a modicum of knowledge of the rail network and of union feeling on this matter will have realised that this was another way of saying 'no deal'.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A modest, small, or trifling amount."
],
"links": [
[
"modest",
"modest"
],
[
"small",
"small"
],
[
"trifling",
"trifling#Adjective"
],
[
"amount",
"amount#Noun"
]
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "iota"
},
{
"word": "jot"
},
{
"word": "tittle"
},
{
"word": "modicum"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈmɒdɪkəm/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈmɑdɪkəm/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/-də-/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"audio": "En-us-modicum.mp3",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/En-us-modicum.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/68/En-us-modicum.mp3/En-us-modicum.mp3.ogg",
"tags": [
"General-American"
],
"text": "Audio (GA)"
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "ace"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "atom"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "bissel"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "bit"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "crumb"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "dab"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "damn"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "dash"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "diddly"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "dot"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "drop"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "dusting"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "fleck"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "flyspeck"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "grain"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"tags": [
"British",
"idiomatic"
],
"word": "halfpennyworth"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "hint"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "inch"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "iota"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "jot"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "lick"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "mite"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "modicum"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "molecule"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "morceau"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "morsel"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "mote"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "ooch"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "ounce"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "particle"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"tags": [
"British",
"idiomatic"
],
"word": "pennyworth"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "piece"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "pinch"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"tags": [
"archaic"
],
"word": "scantling"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "scintilla"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "scooch"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "scrap"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "scruple"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "shred"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "skoosh"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "skosh"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "smattering"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "smidge"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "smidgen"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "soupçon"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "speck"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "speckle"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "spot"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "sprinkle"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "sprinkling"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "tad"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "tidbit"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "tidge"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "tittle"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "touch"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "trace"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "trifle"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"tags": [
"British",
"idiomatic"
],
"word": "tuppence worth"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "whiff"
},
{
"source": "Thesaurus:modicum",
"word": "whit"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "nazr",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "نَزْر"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "malko količestvo",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "малко количество"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "minimalno količestvo",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "минимално количество"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "borrall"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "bri"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "engruna"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "mica"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "mínim"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "pizca"
},
{
"code": "yue",
"lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
"roman": "siu² loeng⁶",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "少量"
},
{
"code": "hak",
"lang": "Hakka Chinese",
"roman": "séu-liong",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "少量"
},
{
"code": "nan-hbl",
"lang": "Chinese",
"roman": "chió-liōng, chió-liāng, sió-liōng",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"Hokkien"
],
"word": "少量"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "shǎoliàng",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "少量"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "beetje"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "weinigje"
},
{
"code": "fo",
"lang": "Faroese",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "lítiô sindur"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "rahtu"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "hippu"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "hiukka"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "hiven"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "minimum"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "modicum"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "montant modique"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "Bisschen"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Hauch"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Spur"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Winzigkeit"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "Mindestmaß"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "egy kevés"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "kevéske"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "cseppnyi"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "egy csepp/csöpp"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "szemernyi"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "un po' di"
},
{
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "choppiri",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "ちょっぴり"
},
{
"alt": "しょうりょう",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "shōryō",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "少量"
},
{
"code": "la",
"lang": "Latin",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "modicum"
},
{
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Maori",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "kanhe"
},
{
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Maori",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "takutakunga"
},
{
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Maori",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "taunga"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "bocadinho"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "mínimo"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "pingo"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "um pouco de"
},
{
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "minimum"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "čútočka",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "чу́точка"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "málostʹ",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "ма́лость"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "ničtožno kolíčestvo",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "ничтожно коли́чество"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "ápice"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "mínimo"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "pizca"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "resquicio"
},
{
"code": "sw",
"lang": "Swahili",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"class-7",
"class-8"
],
"word": "kiasi"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "gnutta"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "uns"
},
{
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"word": "nebze"
},
{
"code": "yi",
"lang": "Yiddish",
"roman": "shpur",
"sense": "modest, small, or trifling amount",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "שפּור"
}
],
"word": "modicum"
}
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-26 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (93a6c53 and 21a9316). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.