shamefaced

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective extremely modest or shy; - H.O.Taylor
  2. adjective showing a sense of shame
  3. adjective showing a sense of guilt; ; - Eric Linklater

Etymology

Alteration (due to folk etymology: shame + faced) of shamefast, from Middle English schamefast, schamfast, sceomefest, from Old English sċamfæst (“modest”), equivalent to shame + fast. Synchronically with -faced (/ˈfeɪst/).

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