Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Modest; bashful.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Modest; shamefaced.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective archaic Bashful, modest; shy.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old English scamfæst, corresponding to shame +‎ fast.

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Examples

  • Then the young men ran afoot before her for the prize of a belt and knife, and forsooth she wotted well that were she to run against them with trussed-up skirts she would bear off the prize; but she had no heart thereto, for amidst them all, and her new friendships, she had grown shamefast, and might play the wood-maiden no longer.

    The Water of the Wondrous Isles 2007

  • She came to herself presently, so much that she could see him clearly, and was now growing more shamefast than afraid, when she saw beyond doubt that the man was of the sons of Adam; but what with her shame that was now, and her fear that had been, she yet had no might to move, but stood there pale and trembling like a leaf, and might scarce keep her feet.

    The Water of the Wondrous Isles 2007

  • He is shamefast and bashful with those who surround him and wishes not to be discovered by them, just as one instinctively avoids all lavish display of comfort or wealth in the presence of a poor friend.

    Thus spake Zarathustra; A book for all and none 2001

  • The Master said, A gentleman is shamefast of speech: his deeds go further.

    The Sayings Of Confucius 551 BC-479 BC Confucius

  • The Master said, To be called a knight, a man must be shamefast in all that he does, if he is sent to the four corners of the earth he must not disgrace his lord's commands.

    The Sayings Of Confucius 551 BC-479 BC Confucius

  • See a lovely passage on the subject of bathing in Sir Philip Sydney's "Arcadia," where "Philoclea, blushing, and withal smiling, makeing shamefastnesse pleasant, and pleasure shamefast, tenderly moved her feet, unwonted to feel the naked ground, until the touch of the cold water made a pretty kind of shrugging come over her body; like the twinkling of the fairest among the fixed stars."

    The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 264, July 14, 1827 Various

  • And so the most part of the people that heard the king speak and saw him among them, were shamefast and began to wax peaceable and to depart; but some, such as were malicious and evil, would not depart, but made semblant as though they would do somewhat.

    Chronicle and Romance (The Harvard Classics Series) Thomas Malory Jean Froissart

  • And then a little shamefast colour began to renew her alablaster cheekes, which rendred her so ruddye and fayre, as the Spanyards confessed neuer to haue seene in any parte of the worlde, where they had bene, one so faire and beautifull a wydow.

    The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 1 William Painter

  • She was shamefast at the question, as many a maid hath been.

    The Fall of the Niebelungs Margaret [Translator] Armour

  • On maidenly wise she was shamefast at the first, yet so great was

    The Fall of the Niebelungs Margaret [Translator] Armour

Comments

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  • Demure to ensure there’s no blame cast

    The coy maid is cautiously shamefast.

    By blushes and sighs

    She cleverly tries

    How long she can make the old game last.

    September 23, 2018