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shameless

UK[ˈʃeɪmləs]US[ˈʃeɪmləs]
adj

having no feeling of shame; not ashamed of behavior that is considered wrong or embarrassing

adj

(of an action or behavior) showing a lack of shame

Morpheme Breakdown

shame
less
shame

noun

less

adjective suffix

Etymology

the word 'shameless' is a transparent compound formed within english from its germanic roots. the first element, 'shame', originates from proto-germanic skamō, conveying a sense of covering oneself and, by extension, disgrace. the suffix '-less', from old english '-lēas', originally meant 'free from' or 'without'. when combined, the literal construction 'without shame' directly and logically yields the modern adjective describing someone who feels no shame or an act performed without modesty or remorse. this straightforward morphological process exemplifies how english creates descriptive adjectives by attaching native suffixes to core nouns.

Analysis

Structure: shame (noun) + less (adjective suffix) shame: from old english 'scamu', meaning a painful feeling of guilt, disgrace, or regret. it is a germanic root. less: from old english '-lēas', meaning devoid of, free from. it is an adjective-forming suffix of germanic origin.

Examples

he told a shameless lie right to her face.

the tabloid published a shameless invasion of the celebrity's privacy.

she was shameless in promoting her own achievements.

shameless – Meaning, Etymology & Word Origin | OpenEtymology