bashfulness

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English

Etymology

bashful +‎ -ness

Noun

bashfulness (usually uncountable, plural bashfulnesses)

  1. The quality or property of being bashful
    Synonyms: shyness, reserve, timidity
    • 1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: [] G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] [], →OCLC:
      I, smiling in his face, took the letter, and immediately catching gently hold of his shirt sleeve, drew him towards me, blushing, and almost trembling; for surely his extreme bashfulness, and utter inexperience, call'd for, at least, all the advances to encourage him

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