Synonym Game

abase

[uh-beys] Origin

a·base

[uh-beys]
verb (used with object), a·based, a·bas·ing.
1.
to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble; degrade.
2.
Archaic, to lower; put or bring down: He abased his head.

Origin:
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

a·base·ment, noun
a·bas·er, noun
un·a·bas·ing, adjective


1. humiliate, dishonor, defame, belittle.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Abase is an SAT word you need to know.
So is odium. Does it mean:
intense hatred or dislike toward a person or thing regarded as contemptible, despicable, or repugnant
one who excels in telling stories and anecdotes
Collins
World English Dictionary
abase (əˈbeɪs)
 
vb
1.  to humble or belittle (oneself, etc)
2.  to lower or reduce, as in rank or estimation
 
[C15: abessen, from Old French abaissier to make low. See base²]
 
a'basement
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

abase
late 14c., abaishen, from O.Fr. abaissier "diminish, make lower in value or status," from V.L. *ad bassiare "bring lower," from L.L. bassus "thick, fat, low;" from the same source as base (adj.) and altered in Eng. by influence of it, which made it an exception to the rule
EXPAND
that O.Fr. verbs with stem -iss- enter English as -ish.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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