abash

[ uh-bash ]

verb (used with object)

1. to destroy the self-confidence, poise, or self-possession of; disconcert; make ashamed or embarrassed:

   to abash someone by sneering.

   Synonyms: embarrass, discompose, shame

abash

/ əˈbæʃ /

verb

1. tr; usually passive to cause to feel ill at ease, embarrassed, or confused; make ashamed

Derived Forms

• aˈbashment, noun

Other Words From

• a·bashment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abash¹

1275–1325; Middle English abaishen < dialectal Old French abacher, Old French abaissier to put down, bring low ( abase ), perhaps conflated with Anglo-French abaiss-, long stem of abair, Old French esba ( h ) ir to gape, marvel, amaze ( es- ex- ¹ + -ba ( h ) ir, alteration of baer to open wide, gape < Vulgar Latin *batāre; bay ², bay ³ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of abash¹

C14: via Norman French from Old French esbair to be astonished, from es- out + bair to gape, yawn

Example Sentences

We intend to confound them, to abash and bring them down, when we should in fact be examining what they say closely for its fascist potential.

From The Guardian

The stare seemed to abash Poirot.

From Literature

Wilson, by his account, fired four separate volleys of bullets, but found that the first three of them did nothing to abash Brown; in his telling, they seemed almost to excite him.

From The New Yorker

To check the familiarity of others, you need not become stiff, sullen, nor cold, but you will find that excessive politeness on your own part, sometimes with a little formality, will soon abash the intruder.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a man whom no check could abash.

From Project Gutenberg