Shamefulnesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state characterized by a sense of guilt or embarrassment over one's actions or those of others
2. The condition of being shameful, marked by unethical behavior that warrants disgrace
3. Instances or manifestations of conduct that provoke feelings of dishonor or disgracefulness

Etymology: The plural "shamefulnesses" is simply the plural of "shamefulness," the noun for the quality of being shameful. Its roots run deep: the core "sham" comes from Old English "sċamu," ultimately from a Proto-Germanic word for shame, while "-ful" (from Old English "-ful," meaning "full of") and "-ness" (from Old English "-nes," a suffix that turns adjectives into nouns of quality) were attached to it in the Middle English period. The word as a whole is a straightforward English formation, built from "shameful" plus "-ness." Because "shamefulness" names a quality, its plural refers to particular instances of that quality, which is why the plural is used for acts causing disgrace. The plural is the more usual way of speaking of such deeds: a list of shamefulnesses is a list of disgraceful acts rather than of the abstract trait behind them.

Synonyms: embarrassment, humiliation

Antonyms: pride, self-esteem