Shamefacedness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Shamefaced \Shame"faced`\, a. [For shamefast; AS. scamfaest. See
     {Shame}, n., and {Fast} firm.]
     Easily confused or put out of countenance; diffident;
     bashful; modest.
     [1913 Webster]
  


           Your shamefaced virtue shunned the people's prise.
                                                    --Dryden.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: 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.
           [1913 Webster] -- {Shame"faced}, adv. --
           {Shame"faced`ness}, n.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  shamefacedness
       n : feeling embarrassed about yourself [syn: {sheepishness}]