See Also: shame(medicine)
shame(1)(dictionary)
shame(2)(dictionary)
shame 1, noun(dictionary)
shame 2, verb(dictionary)

shame(1) (iou)



shame noun.

a. The feeling of humiliation or distress arising from the consciousness of something dishonourable or ridiculous in one's own or another's behaviour or circumstances, or from a situation offensive to one's own or another's sense of propriety or decency. OE.
R. Park A tear splashed on the table, and..made Carrie burn with shame.
b. A feeling of this kind. rare. M19.
a. Disgrace, loss of esteem or reputation; an instance of this. OE.
New York Review of Books The journalist..exposing the griefs and shames of others.
b. Infliction of disgrace or injury; expression of reproach in language or behaviour. Freq. in do a person shame below. ME-E17.
c. spec. A woman's loss of chastity or a violation of her honour. Now chiefly in child of shame, a child born to an unmarried woman. arch. ME.
a. Without article: a fact or circumstance bringing disgrace or dishonour; the cause of reproach, disappointment, or regret. Chiefly pred. Long arch. OE.
Sir W. Scott It were shame to our profession were we to suffer it.
b. An instance of this; a matter for (extreme) reproach or regret. Freq. in a great shame, what a shame!, it's a shame, etc. Now colloq. LME.
E. Jolley Many people..thought it..a shame he was not married.
c. A person who or thing which is a cause or source of disgrace; colloq. something regarded as shockingly ugly, indecent, or badly made. L16.
The genitals. Long arch. rare. OE.
As interjection. Expr. shock, reproach, disgust, etc. (freq. in for shame below); S. Afr. expr. sympathy or pleasure. ME.
Disgracefulness or wickedness in conduct or behaviour. ME-L17.
Regard for propriety or decency, esp. as imposing a restraint on behaviour; modesty, shyness. Formerly also, an instance of this. ME.
Oxford English Dictionary I am not surprised at his request; he is quite without shame.
Phrases: cry shame on, cry shame upon express vigorous disapproval of. dead to shame arch. no longer capable of feeling shame, grown hardened to shame. do a person shame inflict disgrace or injury on a person, reproach a person. for shame (a) arch. because one feels shame; in order to avoid shame; (b) a reproof to a person for not feeling or showing shame (cf. sense 5 above). have shame (obsolete exc. poet.) be ashamed, feel ashamed. in shame of (rare, Shakes.) in order to put to shame. put to shame (a) bring into disgrace, bring disgrace on, esp. publicly; (b) outshine by virtue of superior qualities or a more praiseworthy action. shame on you! you should be ashamed. take shame on oneself, take shame to oneself accept blame or disgrace as merited; acknowledge that one is at fault. think shame (arch. exc. Scot.) be ashamed. to one's shame so as to cause one shame, in a way that brings one discredit. what a shame! how unfortunate! what a pity! without shame shameless; shamelessly.
Comb.: shame culture Anthropology a culture in which conformity of behaviour is maintained through the individual's fear of being shamed.
shameworthy adjective (rare) of which one ought to be ashamed E19.