1. Embarrassed, ashamed, or self conscious: William was abashed because he forgot his wife's birthday.

Matilda's abashed reaction was obvious when she was asked about what kind of job she had.

2. Etymology: Bah! was an exclamation of astonishment in Old French. The English word abashed comes from Old French esbahir, "to get a bah out of someone" or "expressing impatient rejection or contempt".