from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Shame \Shame\, n. [OE. shame, schame, AS. scamu, sceamu; akin to
OS. & OHG. scama, G. scham, Icel. sk["o]mm, shkamm, Sw. &
Dan. skam, D. & G. schande, Goth. skanda shame, skaman sik to
be ashamed; perhaps from a root skam meaning to cover, and
akin to the root (kam) of G. hemd shirt, E. chemise. Cf.
{Sham}.]
1. A painful sensation excited by a consciousness of guilt or
impropriety, or of having done something which injures
reputation, or of the exposure of that which nature or
modesty prompts us to conceal.
[1913 Webster]
HIde, for shame,
Romans, your grandsires' images,
That blush at their degenerate progeny. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Have you no modesty, no maiden shame? --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. Reproach incurred or suffered; dishonor; ignominy;
derision; contempt.
[1913 Webster]
Ye have borne the shame of the heathen. --Ezek.
xxxvi. 6.
[1913 Webster]
Honor and shame from no condition rise. --Pope.
[1913 Webster]
And every woe a tear can claim
Except an erring sister's shame. --Byron.
[1913 Webster]
3. The cause or reason of shame; that which brings reproach,
and degrades a person in the estimation of others;
disgrace.
[1913 Webster]
O C?sar, what a wounding shame is this! --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Guides who are the shame of religion. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. The parts which modesty requires to be covered; the
private parts. --Isa. xlvii. 3.
[1913 Webster]
{For shame!} you should be ashamed; shame on you!
{To put to shame}, to cause to feel shame; to humiliate; to
disgrace. "Let them be driven backward and put to shame
that wish me evil." --Ps. xl. 14.
[1913 Webster]