As verbs the difference between dispirit and abash
is that dispirit is lower the morale of; make despondent; dishearten while abash is to make ashamed; to embarrass; to destroy the self-possession of, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to disconcert; to discomfit.
dispirit
English
Alternative forms
* disspirit
Verb
(
en verb)
Lower the morale of; make despondent; dishearten.
Derived terms
* dispiritedly
* dispiritedness
* dispiritingly
* dispiritment
abash
English
Verb
(
es)
To make ashamed; to embarrass; to destroy the self-possession of, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to disconcert; to discomfit. [ ]
- "He was a man whom no check could abash ." – .
(obsolete) To lose self-possession; to become ashamed. [ ]
Usage notes
* Of abash, confuse, confound: Abash' is a stronger word than '''confuse''', but not so strong as ' confound .
** We are abashed'' when struck either with sudden shame or with a humbling sense of inferiority; as, Peter was ''abashed'' by the look of his Master. So a modest youth is ''abashed in the presence of those who are greatly his superiors.
** We are confused'' when, from some unexpected or startling occurrence, we lose clearness of thought and self-possession. Thus, a witness is often ''confused'' by a severe cross-examination; a timid person is apt to be ''confused in entering a room full of strangers.
** We are confounded'' when our minds are overwhelmed, as it were, by something wholly unexpected, amazing, dreadful, etc., so that we have nothing to say. Thus, a criminal is usually ''confounded at the discovery of his guilt.
*::* Satan stood Awhile as mute, confounded what to say. – John Milton
Synonyms
* confuse
* confound
* disconcert
* shame
* humiliate
* embarrass
* See also
Antonyms
* embolden
* reassure
Derived terms
* abashed
* abashedly
* abashedness
* abashless
* abashment
Anagrams
*
*
References
