Abase

Abase
Abase A*base" ([.a]*b[=a]s"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abased} ([.a]*b[=a]st"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Abasing}.] [F. abaisser, LL. abassare, abbassare; ad + bassare, fr. bassus low. See {Base}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. To lower or depress; to throw or cast down; as, to abase the eye. [Archaic] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

Saying so, he abased his lance. --Shelton. [1913 Webster]

2. To cast down or reduce low or lower, as in rank, office, condition in life, or estimation of worthiness; to depress; to humble; to degrade. [1913 Webster]

Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased. --Luke xiv. ll. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To {Abase}, {Debase}, {Degrade}. These words agree in the idea of bringing down from a higher to a lower state. Abase has reference to a bringing down in condition or feelings; as, to abase the proud, to abase one's self before God. Debase has reference to the bringing down of a thing in purity, or making it base. It is, therefore, always used in a bad sense, as, to debase the coin of the kingdom, to debase the mind by vicious indulgence, to debase one's style by coarse or vulgar expressions. Degrade has reference to a bringing down from some higher grade or from some standard. Thus, a priest is degraded from the clerical office. When used in a moral sense, it denotes a bringing down in character and just estimation; as, degraded by intemperance, a degrading employment, etc. ``Art is degraded when it is regarded only as a trade.'' [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • abase — abase, demean, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate are synonymous when they denote to lower in one’s own estimation or in that of others. Abase suggests loss of dignity or prestige without necessarily implying permanency in that loss. When used… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Abase — is an early 1970s text based computer game for BASIC designed by People s Computer Company similar to the game Number . In the game Abase , one chooses a base from 2 to 10 and guesses a number the computer has chosen in that base. The game… …   Wikipedia

  • abase — abase; abase·ment; …   English syllables

  • abase — ► VERB (abase oneself) ▪ behave in a way that lessens others respect for one. DERIVATIVES abasement noun. ORIGIN Old French abaissier to lower …   English terms dictionary

  • abase — I verb abuse, adulterate, belittle, bring down, brutalize, calumniate, debase, decivilize, defame, deform, degrade, demean, demote, derogate, diminish, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, downgrade, humble, humiliate, lower, pervert, reduce, set down …   Law dictionary

  • abase — (v.) late 14c., abaishen, from O.Fr. abaissier diminish, make lower in value or status (12c.), from V.L. *ad bassiare bring lower, from L.L. bassus thick, fat, low; from the same source as BASE (Cf. base) (adj.) and altered 16c. in English by… …   Etymology dictionary

  • abase — [v] deprive of self esteem, confidence belittle, debase, degrade, demean, diminish, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, lower, mortify, reduce, shame; concepts 7,19 Ant. cherish, dignify, exalt, extol, honor, respect …   New thesaurus

  • abase — [ə bās′] vt. abased, abasing [ME abessen < OFr abaissier < ML abassare, to lower, bring down < L ad (see A 2) + VL bassus, low] 1. to humble or humiliate [he abased himself before the king] 2. Archaic to lower; cast down SYN. DEGRADE …   English World dictionary

  • abase — UK [əˈbeɪs] / US verb Word forms abase : present tense I/you/we/they abase he/she/it abases present participle abasing past tense abased past participle abased formal abase yourself Derived word: abasement noun uncountable …   English dictionary

  • abase — verb /əˈbeɪs/ a) To lower physically or depress; to stoop; to throw or cast down; as, to abase the eye. Saying so, he abased his lance. b) To cast down or to lower, as in rank, office, condition in life or estimation of wort …   Wiktionary

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