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abase

[ uh-beys ]
/ əˈbeɪs /
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See synonyms for: abase / abased / abasement on Thesaurus.com
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.
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Origin of abase

First recorded in 1470–80; a-5 + base2; replacing late Middle English abassen, equivalent to a-5 + bas base2; replacing Middle English abaissen, abe(i)sen, from Anglo-French abesser, abaisser, Old French abaissier, equivalent to a- a-5 + -baissier, from (unattested) Vulgar Latin bassiare, verbal derivative of Late Latin bassus; see base2

OTHER WORDS FROM abase

a·base·ment, nouna·bas·er, nounun·a·bas·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to abase

belittle, debase, degrade, demean, diminish, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, lower, mortify, reduce, shame

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 of abase

abasement, 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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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