abase

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to lower in rank, dignity, or esteem; to humble

   He would not abase himself by begging for mercy.

Simplified etymology

Abase entered English in the late Middle English period and is related to base in its old-fashioned sense “low” or “ignoble.” This base comes from Latin bassus, meaning “short.”

From Middle English abassen, from Old French abaissier ('to lower, bring down'), from Vulgar Latin *abbassiāre, from Latin ad- ('to') + bassus ('low'). The modern spelling was influenced by 'base'.

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External links

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