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| shame [ shaym ] |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. negative emotion: a negative emotion that combines feelings of dishonor, unworthiness, and embarrassment
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2. capacity to feel unworthy: the capacity or tendency to feel shame
  He has no shame.
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3. state of disgrace: a state of disgrace or dishonor
bring shame on the family
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4. cause for regret: a cause for regret or disappointment
It's a shame you couldn't stay for lunch.
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5. cause of shame: somebody or something that causes somebody else to feel shame
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transitive verb (past and past participle shamed, present participle sham·ing, 3rd person present singular shames) |
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| Definition: |
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1. make somebody feel ashamed: to make somebody feel the negative emotion of shame
It shamed her that she had cheated.
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2. force somebody through shame: to make somebody do something by exploiting the fact that he or she would be ashamed not to do it
He shamed us into making higher donations to the ministry.
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3. make somebody feel inferior: to be so much better or more successful than others as to expose their comparative inadequacy
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interjection |
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| Definition: |
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expressing sympathetic reaction: used to react sympathetically to something disappointing
Shame, old friend, we would have invited you if we'd known you were free.
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| [ Old English sceamu< Germanic] |
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put somebody or something to shame to make somebody or something seem inferior or of inferior quality by comparison
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