| 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. |

a·base (ə-bās') tr.v. a·based, a·bas·ing, a·bas·es To lower in rank, prestige, or esteem. See Synonyms at degrade. [Middle English abassen, from Old French abaissier : Latin ad-, ad- + Vulgar Latin *bassiāre (from Medieval Latin bassus, low).] a·base'ment n. |