Abashed

Abashed
Abash A*bash" ([.a]*b[a^]sh"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abashed} ([.a]*b[a^]sht"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Abashing}.] [OE. abaissen, abaisshen, abashen, OF. esbahir, F. ['e]bahir, to astonish, fr. L. ex + the interjection bah, expressing astonishment. In OE. somewhat confused with abase. Cf. {Finish}.] 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. [1913 Webster]

Abashed, the devil stood, And felt how awful goodness is. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

He was a man whom no check could abash. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To confuse; confound; disconcert; shame.

Usage: To {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. [1913 Webster]

Satan stood Awhile as mute, confounded what to say. --Milton. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • abashed — index diffident Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • abashed — [adj] exhibiting mental discomfort, ill at ease ashamed, bewildered, bugged*, chagrined, confounded, confused, crushed, discombobulated*, disconcerted, embarrassed, fazed*, fuddled, humbled, humiliated, in a tizzy*, mortified, rattled, shamed,… …   New thesaurus

  • abashed — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed. ORIGIN from Old French esbair utterly astound …   English terms dictionary

  • abashed — [[t]əbæ̱ʃt[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu v link ADJ If you are abashed, you feel embarrassed and ashamed. [WRITTEN] He seemed both abashed and secretly delighted at Dan s gift …   English dictionary

  • abashed — un·abashed; un·abashed·ly; …   English syllables

  • abashed — abashedly /euh bash id lee/, adv. abashedness, n. /euh basht /, adj. ashamed or embarrassed; disconcerted: My clumsiness left me abashed. [1300 50; ME; see ABASH, ED2] * * * …   Universalium

  • abashed — adj. VERBS ▪ be, look ADVERB ▪ a little, slightly, etc. ▪ suitably ▪ He glan …   Collocations dictionary

  • abashed — a|bashed [əˈbæʃt] adj [not before noun] written [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: abair to surprise greatly , from esbair, from baer to have the mouth wide open ] embarrassed or ashamed because you have done something wrong or stupid ▪ She… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • abashed — adjective (not before noun) embarrassed or ashamed because you have done something wrong or stupid: She looked rather abashed …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • abashed — adjective Iris was positively abashed when she rose only to realize another nominee had won the award Syn: embarrassed, ashamed, shamefaced, remorseful, conscience stricken, mortified, humiliated, humbled, chagrined, crestfallen, sheepish, red… …   Thesaurus of popular words

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