shameless
adj/ˈʃeɪ̯mlɪs/ · /ˈʃeɪ̯mləs/
Etymology From Middle English schameles, shameles, from Old English sċamlēas, sċeamlēas (“without shame; shameless”), from Proto-Germanic *skamalausaz (“shameless”), equivalent to shame + -less. Cognate with West Frisian skamteleas (“shameless”), Dutch schaamteloos (“shameless”), German schamlos (“shameless”), Danish skamløs (“shameless”), Swedish skamlös (“shameless”), Icelandic skammlaus (“shameless; unashamed”).
1
Having no shame, no guilt nor remorse over something considered wrong; immodest, brazen; unable to feel disgrace.
2
Obsolete Not subject to other people’s shaming or reproach.
- Near-synonyms: blameless, unblameable
- He shall be as now nameles, But he shall not be blameles, Nor he shall not be shameles; For sure he wrought amys, […]c. 1503–1512, John Skelton, Ware the Hauke; republished in John Scattergood, editor, John Skelton: The Complete English Poems, 1983, →OCLC, page 62, lines 38–41:
- Derived terms
- shamelessly, shamelessness