Middle English Dictionary Entry
shāmefastnes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shāmefastnes(se n. Also shamefastenes(se, shamfastnes(se, (early SEM) shamfestnesse & (errors) shameftnesse, shampfastnes. |
| Etymology | OE sceamfæstness; also cp. ME shāmefast(e adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Modesty; soberness, seriousness; bashfulness, shyness; also, mental confusion [quot.: Chartier Treat.Hope]; (b) modesty personified.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.7.21 : Wile þou not gon awei fro a wel felynge womman & a good whom þou hast goten in þe drede of þe lord, forsoþe þe grace of þe shamefastnesse [L verecundiæ] of hir ouer gold.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.840 : Sire clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse [vr. shameftnesse].
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)l Tim.2.9 : Þerfore ich wole þat men preyen in eferich place..And wymmen also in a couenabel habyte, wiþ schamfastnesse & sobernesse arayynge hem-selfe.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)27 : Marye..was abasshed and astonyd with an honeste shamefastnes, and also with drede, for though sche trowed wele that the aungel seide soth, neuertheles sche dredde his word.
- a1450 *Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)196 : Gete by grace the vertu of shamfastnesse, for that arayeth a clene soule in vertuous maners and vertuous speche.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)145/8 : For þe felaw of maydenhede is mekenes and þe tokne þerof is schamefastnes.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)105/236 : I can-not Answere; grett shamfastnes and grett dred is in me.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)21/3 : Vndirstonding kest downe his looke..but alweyes abode in a shamefastenesse-mysknowliche, vnto the tyme the furste of these thre ladies by swete wourdis made him bolde.
- a1500 Counsels Isidor (Hrl 1706)369 : Bere þerfore schamefastenes in chere by mynde of þi defauȝttes, for schame of þi synnes be dysmayed to loke prowedly.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2224 : But now, allas, Drede & Schamefastnesse Han daunted Loue..And maked hym ful humble of port & chere.
2.
The feeling of having disgraced oneself; also, an instance of such feeling; regret, remorse.
Associated quotations
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)71 : Ten þing ben þe letten men of here scrifte..þat ben þese and haten þus: forgetelnesse, nutelnesse, recheles, shamfestnesse [L Verecundia], [etc.].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.985 : The herte trauailleth for shame of his synne, and for he hath greet shamefastnesse, he is digne to haue greet mercy of god.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)284b/a : Among hem [elephants] is wonder schamefastnesse, for if oon of hem is ouercome, he þat is ouercome fleeþ þe voice of þe victor.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)54/12 : Schamfastnesse..is þe grettest party of penaunce.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)20/38 : It seemede to hir in a greet schamefastnes þat sche was principal cause of alle þe yuelis or dissesis do in þe world, & conceyuede in hirsilf a synguler hate & displesaunce of hirsilf.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)98.116 (v.2:p.124) : Othir famous doctours .., smette with the shamefastnesse of pusillanymyte, hidden her facis and her forhefdis with her slevis and wenten her wey.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13920 : He dar nat attame To tellyn out hys ffautys, nor expresse, Only for dred and ffor shamfastnesse.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)484/74 : Thys dey in myrth mot passe so noiouslye That in þe morne our werkys we begynne, Wyth cler conscience owr lord to magnifie, Attempyrd ey with shampfastnes of synne.