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Webster 1913 Edition

Shamefaced

Shame′facedˊ

,
Adj.
[For
shamefast
; AS.
scamfaest
. See
Shame
,
Noun.
, and
Fast
firm.]
Easily confused or put out of countenance; diffident; bashful; modest.
Your
shamefaced
virtue shunned the people’s prise.
Dryden.
☞ Shamefaced was once shamefast, shamefacedness was shamefastness, like steadfast and steadfastness; but the ordinary manifestations of shame being by the face, have brought it to its present orthography.
Trench.
–
Shame′faced
,
adv.
–
Shame′facedˊness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition

Shamefaced

SHA'MEFACED

,
Adj.
Bashful; easily confused or put out of countenance. A man may be shamefaced to excess.
Conscience is a blushing shamefaced spirit. Shak.
Your shamefac'd virtue shunn'd the people's praise. Dryden.

Definition 2024

shamefaced

shamefaced

English

Adjective

shamefaced ‎(comparative more shamefaced, superlative most shamefaced)

  1. bashful, showing modesty or embarrassment
  2. ashamed, displaying shame, especially by blushing in the face.

Derived terms

References

  • Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967

Etymology

Alteration (due to folk etymology) of shamefast, from Middle English schamefast, schamfast, sceomefest, from Old English sceamfæst, scamfæst ‎(“bashful, shy, modest”, literally “firm or fast in modesty or shame”), equivalent to shame +‎ fast.

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