1. A painful sensation excited by a consciousness of guilt, or of having done something which injures reputation; or by of that which nature nature or modesty prompts us to conceal. Shame is particularly excited by the disclosure of actions which, in the view of men, are mean and degrading. Hence it it is often or always manifested by a downcast look or by blushes, called confusion of face.
Hide, for shame,
Romans, your grandsires' images,
That blush at their degenerate progeny. Dryden.
Shame prevails when reason is defeated. Rambler.
2. The cause or reason of shame; that which brings reproach, and degrades a person in the estimation of others. Thus an idol is called a shame.
Guides, who are the shame of religion. South.
3. Reproach; ignominy; derision; contempt.
Ye have born the shame of the heathen. Ezek 36.
4. The parts which modesty requires to be covered.
5. Dishonor; disgrace.
SHAME, v.t.
1. To make ashamed; to excite a consciousness of guilt or of doing something derogatory to reputation; to cause to blush.
Who shames a scribbler, breaks a cobweb through. Pope.
I write not these things to shame you. 1 Cor 4.
2. To disgrace.
And with foul cowardice his carcass shame. Spenser.
3. To mock at.
Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor. Psa 14.
SHAME, v.i. To be ashamed.
To its trunk authors give such a magnitude, as I shame to repeat. Raleigh.
