Middle English Dictionary Entry
shāmefast(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | shāmefast(e adj. Also shā̆mfast(e & (K) ssamvest(e, (early SWM) samvast & shom(e)faste, (early) sceomefest, (early SWM) shomevaste & (error) swomefest. |
| Etymology | OE sceamfæst, scamfæst; also cp. ME shāme n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Modest, humble, virtuous; bashful, shy, timid; also, blushing [some quots. from glossaries may belong in sense 1.(b)]; of the eyes: expressing humility; also, as noun: a meek or humble person; ~ of, averse to (sth.), shy of; the nought ~, the immodest person; (b) of an action, a virtue, etc.: characterized by modesty.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2175 : Sannte Marȝe..wass wiss wiþþ alle, Shammfasst, & daffte, & sedefull.
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)553/9 : Uerecundus: sceomefest.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)3201 : Wimmen beþ schamfast in dede, And namliche maidenes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)193/7 : Alneway me ssel ham bleþeliche yeue and nameliche to þe poure ssamueste and to þe uaderlease.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)216/29 : Zainte pauel..tekþ huiche byeþ of simple ziȝþe, þet is to zigge, milde..naȝt þe bolde ne þe naȝt ssamueste ase byeþ þe fole wyfmen þet guoþ mid stondinde nihcke.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)231/17 : Vor þo þet byeþ zoþliche maidines, hi were y-woned to bi dreduol and ssamuest.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.15.12 : Onye..was heeȝist prest, a good man and benygne, shamfast in siȝt and mylde in maners.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.55 : Shamefast she was in maydens shamefastnesse, Constant in herte and euere in bisynesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)70a/a : A womman..makeþ mo lesinges & is more schamefast & more slow in worchingine [read: worching] & in meuynge þanne is a man.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)53b/a : Pudibundus: shomfaste.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)443 : Schamefast: Verecundus, verecundiosus, pudorosus.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)608/25 : Rubescens: shamfast.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)145/8 : Euer þei ben schamefast of þing þat longith to breking or hurtyng of virginite and maydenhede.
- ?a1475 Banester Guiscardo (Add 12524)228 : Yong men of nature beth euer shamfast.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)229/32 : Tho that haue the face sumwhate ruddy bene schamefaste, and tokyn of honeste shewith in har visage.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)77/14 : Morice was a man ful wyrchipphul and shamefaste [Dub: chamfaste]..of herte and body wel thewed, nothynge couetynge.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)275/39 : His eyen ought to be symple and shamefast [L pudici] that so customably beholdeth the holy body.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2055 : Depeynted been the walles vp and doun Of huntyng and of shamfast chastitee.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.984 : Confessioun moste be shamefast nat for to couere ne hide his synne, for he hath agilt his god and defouled his soule.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)172/4 : Wisdome forsoþe þat is..aboue furst is schamfaste, aftur pesible, manerliche, able to take lore.
2.
Reluctant, unwilling, hesitant; -- used with inf.
Associated quotations
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)53/12 : A man is more schamfast to schewe his synnes to hym þat he seeþ al day þan to hym þat he seeþ but ones a ȝere.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1535 : He was agast To love, and for to speke shamefast.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.500 : Be shamfast any wiht taccuse, Which in such caas thi-silf canst nat excuse!
- a1450 *Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)200 : If a chaste soule be a-shamed honestly to speke honest thinges, hou shamfast shuld she be to speke vnshamful thynges, or forto grucche with wronges.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)116/15 : This jurny, I pray ȝow, lete us go fast, ffor I am schamfast of þe pepyl to be seyne.
3.
(a) Ashamed of one's own behavior; ?also, afraid of being disgraced [quot.: ?a1300]; of the face: expressing a look of shame; also, as noun: a contrite person; (b) of woe, fear, etc.: causing shame; shameful, disgraceful; ~ membre, the penis; ~ membres, the male genitalia; ?the testicles.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1554 : Þat maide wes swðen swomefest [Otho: samuast] for hire fader heo scunede.
- ?a1300 Sayings St.Bede (Dgb 86)261 : Þey þat hoe to srifte come, Hoe beþ sottes and shomefaste [vr. schomeuaste]; Hy nulleþ soþ tellen.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2236 : Whan this wise man say that hym wanted audience, al shamefast he sette hym doun agayn.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.987 : Seith Seint Augustyn that swich shamefast folk ben next foryeuenesse and remissioun.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.48 : Acheleous the flod, defowled in his forheed, dreynte his schamefast [L pudibunda] visage in his strondes.
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)213/29 : Avaryce and ricchesses..makeþe a man litel shamefaste.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)44/1 : He shall make him shamefaste of suche thyngis as he dothe amysse.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)111 : The quene was shamefaste and discouerid to hym the very trouthe, how the childe was be-geten the same nyght that the Duke was slain.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)426 : The squyer..lifte vp his hande and yaf hym [his lord]..a flap..and than returned thider..all shamefaste of that he hadde don.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)23/10 : The confusid and shamefast of his defaulte humbled hymself redy to receyve correccion and doctrine.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.34.26 : Be þei cloþed with confusioun & shamefast drede, þat dedis of malice thenken vp on me.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.13.22 : For þe multitude of þi wickenesse, opened ben þi more shamefast thingis; defoulid ben þi foot soles.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2516 : The shamfast, in-portable wo So frat on hym with such a mortal stryf, That he was wery of his owne lif.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.25.11 : If..the wijf..hath put the hoond and takun the shamfast membris [Bod 959: priueigagys] of hym, thow shalt kut of the hoond of hir.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Lev.16.4 : He schal hide the schamefast membris [L verenda] with pryuy lynnun clothis.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)69/23 : Pyneum..is cleped þe place bytwene þe fundement and þe schamefaste membre [L pudibundum], i. the ȝerde.
4.
In proverbial expressions.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)467 : Pouer thing, where so it be, Is shamefast [F honteuse] and dispised ay.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)27/2 : Sone there-aftyr come Morice..of hert sympil and shamefaste [Dub: shamffast] as a mayd.