barefacedadj.
/ˈbɛːfeɪst/ (in use sometimes approaching an adv.; cf. barefoot adj. and adv., barefooted adj.).
1. With the face uncovered: hence (a) with no hair on the face, beardless, whiskerless, also figurative; (b) without mask or vizard.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > hair > hair on lower part of face > [adjective] > having no
barefaced1600
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adjective] > wearing headgear > wearing a mask > not
unmasked1590
barefaced1600
unvizarded1612
vizardless1674
unbeavereda1851
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream i. ii. 91 Some of your french crownes haue no haire at all; and then you will play bare fac't . View more context for this quotation
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iv. v. 165 They bore him bare-faste on the Beere. View more context for this quotation
1710 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 13 Feb. (1965) I. 21 [The] Ball, to which he has invited a few barefac'd, and the whole Town en Masque.
1869 R. D. Blackmore Lorna Doone I. vii. 71 Under the foot of a barefaced hill.
1883 Harper's Mag. Feb. 485/2 Though others be by whiskers graced, A lawyer can't be too barefaced [cf. 3a].
2. Unconcealed, undisguised, avowed, open. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > manifestness > openness or unconcealedness > [adjective]
openlyeOE
underna900
openeOE
utterly12..
unhida1300
perta1325
apert1330
nakeda1382
public1394
patenta1398
foreign?c1400
overtc1400
unrecovered1433
publicalc1450
open-visageda1513
bare1526
uncloaked1539
subject1556
uncovered1577
unmasked1590
facely1593
undisguised1598
female1602
unveiled1606
unshrouded1610
barefaceda1616
disclouded1615
unhiddena1616
broad-faced1643
with full miena1657
undissembled1671
frank1752
bald-faced1761
unconfidential1772
ostensible1782
unglossed1802
undisguising1813
unvisored1827
unconcealed1839
disprivacied1848
disguiseless1850
bald1854
unobscured1879
visible1885
open door1898
above ground1976
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. i. 120 Though I could With bare-fac'd power sweepe him from my sight. View more context for this quotation
1687 R. L'Estrange Answer to Let. to Dissenter 1 I have liv'd Open and Barefac'd..I will not Dye in a Disguise.
1767 tr. C. di Beccaria Bonesana Ess. Crimes xx. 80 The assaults of barefaced and open tyranny.
3. Hence by gradual pejoration: Audacious, impudent, shameless:
a. of persons,
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [adjective] > shameless
shamelessc897
unshamefasta1100
unshamedc1384
unshamefulc1430
unshamousa1500
unshamefaceda1533
unshameless1555
blushless1566
brazen-faced1571
brazen1573
bashless1578
brassy1596
foreheaded16..
foreheadlessa1603
frontless1607
browless1615
basilisco-proof1649
inverecund1657
perfrict1660
brazen-broweda1682
barefaced1704
cool1723
unblushing1736
brassed1742
inerubescent1788
bald-faced1836
bronzed1841
brazen-fronted1842
brazed1884
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xiii. 365 They barefaced own'd all that the Commissioners had propounded.
1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic II. xiii. 260 That Cæsar was invading the Public Liberty, barefac'd.
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist I. iii. 48 Of all the artful and designing orphans..you are one of the most bare-facedest.
b. of actions, etc.
ΚΠ
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 458. ¶7 Hypocrisie is not so pernicious as bare-faced Irreligion.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xx. 41 Indignant at the barefaced lie.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.1600