Tarsier
Can someone explain to me “humbling” as in “humbling experience”. I read the definition but I still don’t understand the meaning. I also heard “humbling privilege”
Mar 22, 2023 3:07 PM
Corrections · 5
Can someone explain to me “humbling” as in “humbling experience”. I read the definition but I still don’t understand the meaning. I also heard “humbling privilege”
I think you meant this as a question, not as text to be corrected. So I'll answer the question. "Humbling" describes an experience that humbles a person, such as a very difficult task---especially if the task comes from a general skill area in which you thought you were very good already. For example, if you have studied English and you think your skill is quite advanced (but really it's not quite as good as you think) and you try to read a book by William Falkner, it will be a humbling experience. His books are humbling even for native English speakers.
March 22, 2023
Can someone explain to me “humbling” as in “humbling experience”. I read the definition but I still don’t understand the meaning. I also heard “humbling privilege” "Humbling" is a present participle. As such, it can serve as a noun (gerund), or an adjective, and (much less frequently) an adverb. In all cases, the meaning is the same as the verb from which is derived ("to humble"), with the exception that it is no longer a verb. It is a verb "in disguise" as something else. The is how the present participle works almost always. As an adjective, "humbling" ascribes "to humble" to whatever noun it modifies. I realize that the meaning of that statement is not clear. The meaning is open to interpretation. But it is important to understand the basic principle: the verb magically changes into an adjective. A "humbling experience" means a "to humble" experience, that is an experience that causes someone to become humble. In other words, one that pokes a hole in their pride, causes them to become more modest, or causes them to lose confidence. As a noun, its meaning is very close to the infinitive "to humble", which also can act as a noun. Hence, these two sentences are nearly the same: "To humble us was always his intention" ("to humble" is used as a noun) "Humbling us was always his intention" ("humbling" is used as a noun)
March 22, 2023
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