The word operates on two levels: physical and moral. In Homer, it could describe Thersites' ugly appearance or a man's deformed lameness. But more commonly it denotes what is shameful or base in conduct—actions that bring dishonor rather than beauty. Ancient Greeks contrasted it directly with kalos (beautiful, noble), making it the opposite of what is admirable. The moral sense dominates: shameful speech, base actions, dishonorable behavior. When something is called shameful, it's not merely unpleasant but a violation of what is right and honorable. The term frequently appears in ethical arguments about what one should or shouldn't do.