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
abandonment, 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 formsa·base·ment, nouna·bas·er, nounun·a·bas·ing, adjective
Dictionary.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 Formsabasement, noun
Word Origin for abase
C15: abessen, from Old French abaissier to make low. See base ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for abase
abase
late 14c., abaishen, from Old French abaissier "diminish, make lower in value or status" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *ad bassiare "bring lower," from Late Latin bassus "thick, fat, low;" from the same source as base (adj.) and altered 16c. in English by influence of it, which made it an exception to the rule that Old French verbs with stem -iss- enter English as -ish. Related: Abased; abasing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper