Etymology Map
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Shamefaced

2 stages from Old English to English.

Today it means showing shame or embarrassment

Where does the word "shamefaced" come from? It comes from Old English sceamfæst, adopted directly into English (1550s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
sceamfæst
Old English · medieval
"modest"
'held fast by shame', i.e. modest, built like 'steadfast'
2
Stage 2 of 2
shamefaced
English · 1550s
"showing shame"
'shamefast' was reinterpreted as if it described a shamed face; the 1611 King James Bible has women adorning themselves 'with shamefastnesse', which later printings changed to 'shamefacedness'
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Shamefaced’s story begins in Old English: sceamfæst meant “modest.” 'held fast by shame', i.e. modest, built like 'steadfast'. It reached English by 1550s as shamefaced. 'shamefast' was reinterpreted as if it described a shamed face; the 1611 King James Bible has women adorning themselves 'with shamefastnesse', which later printings changed to 'shamefacedness'. Today, shamefaced means showing shame or embarrassment.