English Explanatory Dictionary

shun

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To avoid, especially persistently; ostracize.
  2. To escape (a threatening evil, an unwelcome task etc).
  3. To screen, hide.
  4. To shove, push.

Pronunciation

/ʃʌn/ en-us-shun.ogg /ʃʊn/

Word forms

shun shuns shunning shunned

Etymology

From Middle English schonen (“to decline to do, avoid, fear”), from Old English sċunian (“to shun, fear, avoid”), of uncertain origin, though probably ultimately connected to the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)kewH- (“to cover, conceal”) via Proto-Germanic [Term?]; see that entry for more discussion. Compare hide, shy, and Sanskrit स्कुनाति (skunāti, “to cover”).

Derived words

scunner shunless shunnable shunner shunpike shunpiker shunworthy unshunned
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