lowly

comparative lowlier · superlative lowliest

1. Not high; not elevated in place; low.

   And I watched you waltz from tree to tree As I slunk in my lowly lair

   1918, C. J. Dennis, The Chase of Ages

   1 more example

   And those whom Tiber's holy forests hide, Or Circe's hills from the main land divide; Where Ufens glides along the lowly lands, Or the black water of Pomptina stands.

   1697, John Dryden, translating Virgil, Aeneid^(https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Aeneid_(Dryden))

   Synonyms: nether, nonhigh, unhigh

2. Low in rank or social importance.

   One common right the great and lowly claims.

   1725, Alexander Pope, translating Homer, Odyssey^(https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Odyssey_(Pope)/Book_VIII)

   Synonyms: common, ignoble, plebeian

3. Not lofty or sublime; humble.

   For all who read, and reading, not disdain / These rural poems, and their lowly strain

   1697, John Dryden, Pastoral VI

   1 more example

   Where our apt used to be they built a fancy condominium high-rise. Which at a lowly income none of us could ever really quite afford.

   2010, David Dondero, Just a Baby in Your Momma's Eyes

4. Having a low esteem of one's own worth; humble; meek; free from pride.

   Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew xi:29

   Synonyms: demure, modest, unpretentious, abased, demure, diffident, humble, humble-hearted

comparative more lowly · superlative most lowly

1. In a low manner; humbly; meekly; modestly.

   Walking through the park, it wasn't quite dark / There was a man sitting on a bench / Out of the crowd as his head lowly bowed

   1963, Curtis Mayfield, “Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um”, performed by Major Lance

2. In a low condition; meanly.
3. At low pitch or volume.

   These words were lowly and sweetly murmured in the same way with the word mother, being changefully varied in their modulations, […]

   1852, Herman Melville, Pierre; or The Ambiguities