Middle English Dictionary Entry
shāmelē̆s adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | shāmelē̆s adj. Also shamles, sameles, ssam(e)les, (early) scamele(a)s & shemelas, (early SWM or SW) sh(e)omeles(e, shomeleas(e & (error) shamels. |
| Etymology | OE sceamlēas, scamlēas, scomlēas; also cp. ME shāme n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Lacking a sense of decency; bold, impudent; indecent, immodest; also, unchanging in facial color, unblushing; (b) as noun: a shameless or an immodest person; also, shameless people; (c) as adv.: without feeling shame.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)10/110 : 'Þi feader' he cleopeð þet unþeaw þet streonede þe of þi moder..þet bestelich gederunge, þet scheomelese [Tit: schomelese] sompnunge, þet ful of fulðe stinkinde & untohe dede.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)89/9 : Scheomeles [Pep: schemeful; L Inpudens] is þe mon þe seið eani untu oðer deð biuoren ancre.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)78/24 : Now men and wommen and here children, schameles and dredeles, prechen and crien here synnes.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)316 : Oure worldly clerkis..ben stronge schameles heretikis, to meyntene þis opyn errour aȝenst Goddis lawe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)444 : Schameles, þat chaungythe no chere [Win: colowre ne chere]: Cromaticus, frontosus.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)629 : Thou, o tyraunt..ageyn the hey maieste Of oo god berkyst as a dogge shameles.
- c1475 Abbrev.Trip.SSecr.(UC 85)302/9 : Desire to richesse makith a man shameles; He that is shamelesse most be proude.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)223/17 : The tokenys to know shamels [?read: shameles] men: Ryst opyn eighyn and glysinynge, [etc.].
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)108/8 : Who hath an oblonge face, shamles and envious he is.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)444 : Schameles, or he þat ys not a-schamyd of wykkydnesse: Effrons, inpudens, inverecundus.
- a1450(?1404) As þe see (Dgb 102)127 : Paramour is turned to lecherye..And shameles haunted so comounly, Vnneþe þey recche what men say.
c
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.43 : Þanne mede for hire mysdedis to þat man knelide And shrof hire of hire shrewidnesse, shameles [vrr. schemelas; schomeliche; B: shamelees] I trowe.
2.
Free from disgrace, blameless; also, forgivable, excusable [quot.: 1389].
Associated quotations
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)139/22 : Ðies mihte, hie makeð þanne mann ðe hire wile folȝin senne-leas and scameleas to-foren godd and to-foren manne of ates and of drenches.
- c1400(1389) Wycl.25 Art.(Dc 273)488 : For þo hoore-hows is not so cursid as mony suche templis bene; ffor more cursid synne regnus in hem, and lesse schameles, undur coloure of holynes ande riȝtwysenes, þen at þo hoore-hows.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1964 : For hou so that the cause wende the trouthe is schameles ate ende.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.380 : We scholen him Mete..So that ȝowre worschepe saved schal be, and we schameles In Alle degre.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)20 : Þanne southte þei sone þe forsaide prynce, And to þe schamlese schalk schewden hur lettres.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)144/21 : Lorde Iesü delyuer me & safe me shameles of þis Iewis at þis tyme.
3.
In proverbial expressions.
Associated quotations
- c1275 Hwan þu sixst on leode (Clg A.9)8 : Old mon lechur, Ȝunch mon lieȝer, Wimmon schomeles..Al so seide bede Wo þere þeode.
- a1300 Flyleaf in James Cat.MSS Cai.(Cai 365/728)415 : Þeys bet ȝe þre þat god for les: Holdman Gytles, Yongman recheles, Womman sameles.
- a1300 in James Cat.MSS Trin-C.1.131 : Yung man recheles, Wyman ssameles, betere ham were lifles.
- a1300 King conseilles (Cleo C.6)p.184 : King conseilles, Bissop loreles, Wumman schamles [vrr. ssamles, sameless], Hold man lechur, Iong man trichur: Of alle mine liue, Ne sau i worse fiue.
- a1300 King conseilles (Ipsw 6:Whiting)p.317 : Wanne king is radles and..winman scameles..thanne sal engelong to same gon.