I. ˈshām noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scamu; akin to Old High German scama shame
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety
b. : the susceptibility to such emotion
have you no shame ?
2. : a condition of humiliating disgrace or disrepute : ignominy
the shame of being arrested
3.
a. : something that brings censure or reproach ; also : something to be regretted : pity
it's a shame you can't go
b. : a cause of feeling shame
II. transitive verb
( shamed ; sham·ing )
Date: 13th century
1. : to bring shame to : disgrace
shamed the family name
2. : to put to shame by outdoing
3. : to cause to feel shame
4. : to force by causing to feel guilty
shamed into confessing