abash
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Middle English abaissen, abaisshen, abashen etc., from a form (with lengthened stem) of Old French esbaïr ( > French ébahir), from es + bair (“to astonish”).
[edit] Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -æʃ
[edit] Verb
abash (third-person singular simple present abashes, present participle abashing, simple past and past participle abashed)
- (transitive) To make ashamed; to embarrass; to destroy the self-possession of; to confuse or confound, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to put to shame; to disconcert; to discomfit.
- "He was a man whom no check could abash." - Thomas Babington Macaulay.
- (intransitive, obsolete) To lose self-possession; to become ashamed.
[edit] Synonyms
- The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. Use the template {{sense|"gloss"}}, substituting a short version of the definition for "gloss".
[edit] Usage notes
- Of abash, confuse, confound: Abash is a stronger word than confuse, but not so strong as confound.
- We are abashed when struck either with sudden shame or with a humbling sense of inferiority; as, Peter was abashed by the look of his Master. So a modest youth is abashed in the presence of those who are greatly his superiors.
- We are confused when, from some unexpected or startling occurrence, we lose clearness of thought and self-possession. Thus, a witness is often confused by a severe cross-examination; a timid person is apt to be confused in entering a room full of strangers.
- We are confounded when our minds are overwhelmed, as it were, by something wholly unexpected, amazing, dreadful, etc., so that we have nothing to say. Thus, a criminal is usually confounded at the discovery of his guilt.
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- Satan stood Awhile as mute, confounded what to say. - John Milton
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[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
to make ashamed, to embarrass
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obsolete: to lose self-possession; to become ashamed
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[edit] Shorthand
- Gregg (Version: Centennial,Series 90,DJS,Simplified,Anniversary,Pre-Anniversary): a - b - a - sh
