noun, feminine/mo.vɛz ɔ̃t/plural: mauvaises hontes
false modesty
“p. 1610, a. 1710, Paul Scarron, A Madame Celeste de Palaiseau, in Œuvres, volume I” — By some kindness, or false modesty if you will, I don't have the force to refuse anything that is asked of me firmly.