ʃeɪm n. & v. --n. 1 a
feeling of
distress or humiliation caused by
consciousness of
the guilt or
folly of
oneself or an
associate. 2 a
capacity for experiencing
this feeling,
esp. as
imposing a
restraint on
behaviour (has no
sense of shame). 3 a
state of
disgrace,
discredit, or
intense regret. 4 a a
person or
thing that brings disgrace etc. b a thing or
action that is
wrong or
regrettable. --v.tr. 1
bring shame
on;
make ashamed; put to shame. 2 (foll. by
into,
out of) force by shame (was shamed into confessing). øfor shame! a reproof to a person for
not showing shame. put to shame disgrace or
humiliate by revealing
superior qualities etc. shame on you!
you should be ashamed.
what a shame! how unfortunate! [OE sc(e)amu]