shame, interjection

Origin:
English, AfrikaansShow more Special sense of general English shame an expression of disapproval; perhaps influenced by Afrikaans expressions of sympathy or pity, see foeitog, siestog.
An expression of sympathy or pity; an expression of pleasure or sentiment, especially at something small or endearing. Frequently in the phrase ag shame [see ag], often used ironically. See also foeitog sense 3 and 4, siestog.
1932 Grocott’s Daily Mail 9 Jan. 3During the address of our local dairy representatives..I heard several murmurs of Oh! and Shame! and grant the statements were given in a manner that commanded much sympathy.
1941 M.G. Gilbert Informant, Cape Town, Western Cape 10 Nov.Shame, he seemed so touched at my having written that I’m doubly glad I sent him some food too!
1959 L. Herman in Eng. Studies in Afr. 243Women and children on beholding something small and endearing, a kitten, a puppy, a baby, exclaim: Shame! an exclamation used in English only to express strong disapproval.
1965 K. Mackenzie Deserter 29‘He is asleep,’ said Sannie. ‘Shame.’ ‘He has come a long way,’ said his father. ‘And he is wounded.’
1972 Star 15 Nov. 18In South Africa one can actually carry on a conversation quite easily by using only four words: ‘Shame,’ ‘Hey,’ and ‘Is it?’ Try it sometime and see whether anybody notices.
1976 Sunday Times 14 Nov. 1Oh, look, look...those foals. Oh, shame, aren’t they sweet.
1977 L. Abrahams Celibacy of Felix Greenspan 159She exclaimed, to herself, not to him, ‘Auw, shame!’ It was the reflex sympathy of a complete stranger.
1978 Darling 20 Dec. 34We started a hundred-mile-an-hour sprint down the aisle...And shame he cried when he gave me away and I cried also.
1978 K.C. Oram in Newsletter (Grahamstown Cathedral) Nov.–Dec.You may sentimentalise Christmas, as if the sort of baby that was born would have won a baby-contest and you can say ‘shame’ (or ‘shime’) over the cradle.
1980 E.M. Macphail in Staffrider Vol.3 No.1, 45Oh shame, the next one to read his poems has been told there isn’t time. How disappointing for him.
1982 Sunday Times 31 MayShame,..to express joy, sorrow, pity, admiration etc etc: ‘Shame, she looks so pretty in that frock.’
1984 Cape Times 16 Mar. (Funfinder)One night..someone stabbed ‘some poor guy, shame’ in the parking area.
1988 H. Prendini in Style June 102Ag, shame is the only possible reaction.
1989 T. Baron in Sunday Times 8 Oct. 22Ag shame. The rigours of being posted to an emergent country in Darkest Africa.
1990 Fair Lady 6 June 160A regular response from people who hear you are living in England is, ‘Oh shame! That terrible climate.’
1990 Weekend Mail 14 Sept. 2‘We fed from the tables of the rich and we got all the educational facilities.’ ‘Ag shame...While everybody else was having a wonderful time getting killed in Soweto.’
1991 Personality 6 May 24Their idea is not novel at all. It’s been done before. Ag shame.
1992 J. Boshoff in Sunday Times 6 Sept. 5The teacher said..he would probably die, but I looked at him and thought shame, he hasn’t even had a life.
1993 A.L. Haycock Informant, Grahamstown (now Makhanda, Eastern Cape)It’s a bright sunny day here (sc. in London) (top temperature 20°C!!)...The radio is now jamming ‘English Country Garden’ down my neck — this is what happens at the first bit of sunshine...Shame.
An expression of sympathy or pity; an expression of pleasure or sentiment, especially at something small or endearing. Frequently in the phrase ag shame [see ag], often used ironically.
Derivatives:
Hence shame  noun, an utterance of ‘shame’.
1991 S. Johns in Personality 11 Mar. 98It’s ‘Ag-shame’ time again folks!
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19321993

Derivatives

shame, n.
Shalambombo, nounn.Shangaan, nounn.
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