abject

[ ab-jekt, ab-jekt ]
See synonyms for: abjectabjectlyabjectness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, or wretched: abject poverty.

  2. contemptible; despicable; base-spirited: an abject coward.

  1. shamelessly servile; slavish.

  2. Obsolete. cast aside.

Origin of abject

1
1400–50; late Middle English <Latin abjectus thrown down (past participle of abicere, abjicere), equivalent to ab-ab- + -jec- throw + -tus past participle suffix

Other words for abject

Opposites for abject

Other words from abject

  • ab·ject·ly, adverb
  • ab·ject·ness, ab·ject·ed·ness, noun
  • un·ab·ject, adjective
  • un·ab·ject·ly, adverb
  • un·ab·ject·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with abject

Words Nearby abject

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How to use abject in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abject

abject

/ (ˈæbdʒɛkt) /


adjective
  1. utterly wretched or hopeless

  2. miserable; forlorn; dejected

  1. indicating humiliation; submissive: an abject apology

  2. contemptible; despicable; servile: an abject liar

Origin of abject

1
C14: (in the sense: rejected, cast out): from Latin abjectus thrown or cast away, from abjicere, from ab- away + jacere to throw

Derived forms of abject

  • abjection, noun
  • abjectly, adverb
  • abjectness, noun

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