Shame

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ʃeɪm/
• Rhymes: -eɪm

From Middle English, from Old English scamu, scomu, sceamu, sceomu ("shame"),

Gerhard Köbler, Altenglisches Wörterbuch, entry "scamu"

from Proto-Germanic *skamō,

and thus cognate with Old High German skama (whence German Scham), Old Dutch skama (Dutch schaamte), Old Frisian skame (West Frisian skamte), and Old Norse skǫmm (whence Icelandic skömm, Danish skam). From Proto-Indo-European *ḱem- ("cover, shroud"),

which may also be the source of heaven; see that entry for details.

Compare also Persian شرم and Tosk Albanian shaj ("to insult, offend, slander")
Gheg Albanian shamë ("an insult, offence").

Full definition of shame

Noun

1. Uncomfortable or painful feeling due to recognition or consciousness of impropriety, dishonor, or other wrong in the opinion of the person experiencing the feeling. It is caused by awareness of exposure of circumstances of unworthiness or of improper or indecent conduct.
   When I realized that I had hurt my friend, I felt deep shame.
   The teenager couldn’t bear the shame of introducing his parents.
• William ShakespeareHave you no modesty, no maiden shame?
• 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 5, When this conversation was repeated in detail within the hearing of the young woman in question, and undoubtedly for his benefit, Mr. Trevor threw shame to the winds and scandalized the Misses Brewster then and there by proclaiming his father to have been a country storekeeper.
2. Something to regret.
   It was a shame not to see the show after driving all that way.
• William Shakespeareguides who are the shame of religion
• Evelyn "Champagne" King, in the song ShameAnd what you do to me is a shame.
3. Reproach incurred or suffered; dishonour; ignominy; derision.
• Bible, Ezekiel xxxvi. 6Ye have borne the shame of the heathen.
• Alexander PopeHonour and shame from no condition rise.
• Lord ByronAnd every woe a tear can claim
  Except an erring sister's shame.
4. The cause or reason of shame; that which brings reproach and ignominy.
• Shakespeareguides who are the shame of religion
5. (archaic) That which is shameful and private, especially body parts.Cover your shame!

Usage notes

While shame is not generally counted, it is countable, for example

I felt two shames: one for hurting my friend, and a greater one for lying about it.

Synonyms

• (something regrettable) pity

Derived terms

Interjection

1. A cry of admonition for the subject of a speech, often used reduplicated, especially in political debates.
• 1982, "Telecommunications Bill", HansardMr John Golding: One would not realise that it came from the same Government, because in that letter the Under-Secretary states: "The future of BT's pension scheme is a commercial matter between BT, its workforce, and the trustees of the pensions scheme, and the Government cannot give any guarantees about future pension arrangements."Mr. Charles R. Morris: Shame.
• 1831, The Bristol Job Nott; or, Labouring Man's Friend... the Duke of Dorset charged in the list with "not known, but supposed forty thousand per year" (charitable supposition) had when formerly in office only about 3 or £4,000, and has not now, nor when the black list was printed, any office whatever -- (Much tumult, and cries of "shame" and "doust the liars")
2. (South Africa) Expressing sympathy.Shame, you poor thing, you must be cold!

Derived terms

From Old English scamian.

Verb

1. (obsolete, intransitive) To feel shame, be ashamed.
• 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:Therefore, brothir, I woll that ye wete I shame nat to be with hym nor to do hym all the plesure that I can.
2. I do shame
   To think of what a noble strain you are. — Shakespeare.
3. (transitive) To cause to feel shame.I was shamed by the teacher's public disapproval.
• SouthWere there but one righteous in the world, he would ... shame the world, and not the world him.
4. To cover with reproach or ignominy; to dishonour; to disgrace.
• SpenserAnd with foul cowardice his carcass shame.
5. (obsolete) To mock at; to deride.
• Bible, Psalms xiv. 6Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor.

Derived terms

• ashamed

Anagrams

• ahems, haems, hames, Shema