shamefast

English

Etymology

From Middle English shamefast, schamefast, schamfast, sceomefest, from Old English sċamfæst (modest), corresponding to shame + fast.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈʃeɪmfɑːst/

Adjective

shamefast (comparative more shamefast, superlative most shamefast)

  1. (archaic) Bashful, modest; shy.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. [], London: [] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
      With chaunge of cheare the seeming simple maid / Let fall her eyen, as shamefast to the earth [...].
    • 1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 141:
      But the women are alwayes covered about their middles with a skin, and very shamefast to be seene bare.

Derived terms

Middle English

Alternative forms

  • shamfast, ssamvest, shomefaste, sceomefest, shomevaste

Etymology

From Old English sċamfæst, equivalent to shame + fast.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈʃaːmfast/

Adjective

shamefast

  1. modest, humble, virtuous, bashful, shy, timid

Descendants

  • English: shamefast
  • Scots: schamefast, schamfast
  • Yola: shaamfasth, shaamfast

References

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