shamefast, a. arch.
(ˈʃeɪmfɑːst, -æ-)
Forms: see shame n.
[OE. sc(e)amfæst, f. sc(e)amu shame n. + fæst fast a.
The etymological sense appears to be ‘restrained by shame’; but -fæst was a common element in OE. adj. compounds, in some of which it has hardly any definable meaning.]
1. Bashful, modest. In a good or neutral sense: Modest or virtuous in behaviour and character. In a depreciatory sense: Shy, awkward in the company of others, ‘sheepish’. Also absol.
| c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xxxi. 204 On oðre wisan sint to læronne ða scamleasan, on oðre ða scamfæstan. c 1200 Ormin 2175 Ȝho wass wiss wiþþ alle Shammfasst, & daffte, & sedefull. c 1320 Sir Beues 3201 Wimmen beþ schamfast in dede And namliche maidenes. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1535 Ther nas no lak, but that he was agast To loue, & for to speke shamefast. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 229 Tho that haue the face sumwhate ruddy bene schamefaste. c 1530 Crt. of Love 731 Demene you liche a maid with shamefast dred. 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. xxvi. 10 Yf thy daughter be not shamefast, holde her straitly. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. ii. 27 With chaunge of cheare the seeming simple maid Let fall her eyen, as shamefast to the earth. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado 119 So humble was the prelate, as to please The shamefast maid, he oft fell on his knees. 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 185 A neck leaning to the right hand for shamefast; to the left hand for shamelesse. |
| transf. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 15 Kaman the stone may well be called a turncote, for that it is now blacke, now white, now shamefast and blushing. |
b. Of actions, behaviour, appearance: Characterized by or indicating modesty or bashfulness.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶985 The firste is þat confession moste be shamefast. 1505 Hen. VII Instruct. to Ambass. vi. (1761) 10 The said quyn ys..not liȝght nor boldehardy in speche but with a demewre womanly shamefast contenance. 1611 Mure Misc. Poems ii. 9 Hir schamefast, blusching smyles. a 1835 Motherwell Poet. Wks. (1847) 124 The rose with its sweet shamefast look. 1868 Morris Earthly Par., Doom of K. Acrisius 264 The damsel's shamefast blood Made all her face red to the golden hair. |
† 2. Ashamed, abashed, full of shame.
Obs.| c 1275 Sinners beware! 80 in O.E. Misc. 240 And þeos gedelynges summe. Hwenne heo to schrifte come. Heo beoþ schomeuaste. 1382 Wyclif Ps. xxxiv. 26 Be thei clad with confusioun and shamefast drede. c 1450 Merlin vii. 111 The quene was shamefaste, and discouerid to hym the very trouthe, how the childe was be-geten the same nyght that the Duke was slain. c 1557 Abp. Parker Ps xxxiv. 80 They had an eye: full bent in hym, and so they lightened were: A shamefast face not one of them, from that tyme forth dyd beare. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 130 With their hands couer their shamefast faces. |
† 3. = shameful 4.
Obs.| 1388 Wyclif Lev. xvi. 4 He schal hide the schamefast membris with pryuy lynnun clothis. 1563 T. Hill Art Garden. (1593) 165 The ashes made of the rinds of the Gourds, and strawed on the vlcers of shamefast places,..bringeth them vnto a scarre. 1565 T. Stapleton Fortr. Faith 110 b, Hauing a desease in some shamefast parte of their body. |