Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHALM, or SHAWM, n. [G. schalmeie, from schallen, to sound.]

A kind of musical pipe. [Not used.] – Knolles.

SHA-LOTE, n.

The French echalote anglicised. [See Eschalot.]

SHAL'STONE, n. [G. schale, a scale, and stone, G. stein.]

A mineral which appears in masses, composed of thin lamins, collected into large prismatic concretions; sometimes in hexahedral prisms or tables. Its natural joints are parallel to the sides of a prism slightly rhombic. It is imperfectly foliated and somewhat shining and pearly. It is called by Hausman, tafelspath; by Phillips, tabular spar. Its localities, Ceylon, United States and Temeswar.

SHALT, v.

The second person singular of shall; as, thou shalt not steal.

SHA'LY, a.

Partaking of the qualities of shale.

SHAM, a.

False; counterfeit; pretended; as, a sham fight.

SHAM, n. [W. siom, vacuity, void, balk, disappointment.]

That which deceives expectation; any trick, fraud or device that deludes and disappoints; delusion; imposture. [Not an elegant word.] Believe who will the solemn sham, not I. – Addison.

SHAM, v.i.

To make mocks. – Prior.

SHAM, v.t. [W. siomi, to balk or disappoint.]

1. To deceive expectation; to trick; to cheat; to delude with false pretenses. They find themselves fooled and shammed into conviction. [Not elegant.] – L'Estrange.
2. To obtrude by fraud or imposition. – L'Estrange.

SHAM'AN, n.

In Russia, a wizard or conjurer, who by enchantment pretends to cure diseases, ward off misfortunes, and foretell events. – Encyc.

SHAM'AN-ISM, n.

The idolatrous worship or religion of the Ostiaks, Samoids, and other Finnish tribes.

SHAM'BLES, n. [Sax. scamel, L. scamnum, a bench, It. scanno, Sp. escaño; from L. scando.]

1. The place where butcher's meat is sold; a flesh-market. – 1 Cor. x.
2. In mining, a niche or shelf left at suitable distances to receive the ore which is thrown from one to another, and thus raised to the top.

SHAM'BLING, a. [from scamble, scabling.]

Moving with an awkward, irregular, clumsy pace; as, a shambling trot; shambling legs. – Smith.

SHAM'BLING, n.

An awkward, clumsy, irregular pace or gait.

SHAME, n. [Sax. scama, sceam, sceom; G. scham; D. schaamen; Sw. and Dan. skam. Qu. Ar. حَشَمَ chashama, with a prefix, to cause shame, to blush, to reverence, Class Sm, No. 48.]

1. A painful sensation excited by a consciousness of guilt, or of having done something which injures reputation; or by the exposure of that which nature or modesty prompts us to conceal. Shame is particularly excited by the disclosure of actions which, in the view of men, are mean and degrading. Hence it is often or always manifested by a downcast look or by blushes, called confusion of face. Hide, for shame, / Romans, your grandsires' images, that blush at their degenerate progeny. – Dryden. Shame prevails when reason is defeated. – Rambler.
2. The cause or reason of shame; that which brings reproach, and degrades a person in the estimation of others. Thus an idol is called a shame. – Hos. ix. Guides, who are the shame of religion. – South.
3. Reproach; ignominy; derision; contempt. Ye have borne the shame of the heathen. – Ezek. xxxvi.
4. The parts which modesty requires to be covered.
5. Dishonor; disgrace. – Prov. ix.

SHAME, v.i.

To be ashamed. To its trunk authors give such a magnitude, as I shame to repeat. – Ralegh. [This verb, I believe, is no longer used intransitively.]

SHAME, v.t.

1. To make ashamed; to excite a consciousness of guilt or of doing something derogatory to reputation; to cause to blush. Who shames a scribbler, breaks a cobweb through. – Pope. I write not these things to shame you. – 1 Cor. iv.
2. To disgrace. And with foul cowardice his carcass shame. – Spenser.
3. To mock at. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor. – Ps. xiv.

SHAM-ED, pp.

Made ashamed.

SHAME-FAC-ED, a. [Lye supposes this to be a corruption of Sax. scam-fæst, shame-fast, held or restrained by shame.]

Bashful; easily confused or put out of countenance. A man may be shamefaced to excess. Conscience is a blushing shamefaced spirit. – Shak. Your shamefac'd virtue shunn'd the people's praise. – Dryden.

SHAME-FAC-ED-LY, adv.

Bashfully; with excessive modesty. – Woolton.

SHAME-FAC-ED-NESS, n.

Bashfulness; excess of modesty. – Dryden.

SHAME-FUL, a. [shame and full.]

1. That brings shame or disgrace; scandalous; disgraceful; injurious to reputation. It expresses less than infamous and ignominious. His naval preparations were not more surprising than his quick and shameful retreat. – Arbuthnot.
2. Indecent; raising shame in others. Phœbus flying so most shameful sight. – Spenser.

SHAME-FUL-LY, adv.

1. Disgracefully; in a manner to bring reproach. He shamefully deserted his friend.
2. With indignity or indecency; in a manner that may cause shame. How shamefully that maid he did torment. – Spenser.

SHAME-FUL-NESS, n.

Disgracefulness. – Johnson.

SHAME-LESS, a. [shame and less.]

1. Destitute of shame; wanting modesty; impudent; brazen-faced; immodest; audacious; insensible to disgrace. Such shameless bards we have. – Pope.
2. Done without shame; indicating want of shame; as, a shameless denial of truth.