abase
[ uh-beys ]
/ əˈbeɪs /
verb (used with object), a·based, a·bas·ing.
to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble; degrade.
Archaic. to lower; put or bring down: He abased his head.
Nearby words
abandonee, abandonware, abapical, abaptiston, abarognosis, abase, abased, abash, abashed, abasia, abasia trepidans
Origin of abase
1470–80; a-5 + base2; replacing late Middle English abassen, equivalent to a-5 + bas base2; replacing Middle English abaissen, abe(i)sen < Anglo-French abesser, abaisser, Old French abaissier, equivalent + a- a-5 + -baissier < Vulgar Latin *bassiare, verbal derivative of Late Latin bassus; see base2
SYNONYMS FOR abase
Related forms
a·base·ment, nouna·bas·er, nounun·a·bas·ing, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for abase
British Dictionary definitions for abase
abase
/ (əˈbeɪs) /
verb (tr)
to humble or belittle (oneself, etc)
to lower or reduce, as in rank or estimation
Derived Forms
abasement, nounWord Origin for abase
C15: abessen, from Old French abaissier to make low. See base ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012