əˈbash, -ˈaa(ə)-, -ˈai- verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English abaisen, abaishen, abashen, from (assumed) Middle French abaisser to be astonished, alteration (influenced by abaisser to abase) of esbaiss-, stem of esbair to be astonished, from es- (from Latin ex- ) + bair to yawn, gape, bark — more at bay
transitive verb
: to destroy the self-possession of : confuse or put to shame (as by arousing suddenly a feeling of guilt or inferiority) : disconcert , discomfit
a man whom no check could abash — T.B.Macaulay
intransitive verb
obsolete : to lose self-possession
Synonyms: see embarrass