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abject
7 dictionary results for: abject
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ab·ject       [ab-jekt, ab-jekt] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, or wretched: abject poverty.
2.contemptible; despicable; base-spirited: an abject coward.
3.shamelessly servile; slavish.
4.Obsolete. cast aside.

[Origin: 1400–50; late ME < L abjectus thrown down (ptp. of abicere, abjicere), equiv. to ab- ab + -jec- throw + -tus ptp. suffix]

ab·ject·ly, adverb
ab·ject·ness, ab·ject·ed·ness, noun

1. debasing, degrading; miserable. 2. base, mean, low, vile.
exalted.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ab·ject       (āb'jěkt', āb-jěkt')  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Brought low in condition or status. See Synonyms at mean2.
  2. Being of the most contemptible kind: abject cowardice.
  3. Being of the most miserable kind; wretched: abject poverty.


[Middle English, outcast, from Latin abiectus, past participle of abicere, to cast away : ab-, from; see ab-1 + iacere, to throw; see yē- in Indo-European roots.]

ab'ject'ly adv., ab·ject'ness, ab·jec'tion n.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
abject 
c.1430, "cast off, rejected," from L. abjectus, pp. of abicere "throw away, cast off," from ab- "away, off" + jacere "to throw" (see jet (v.)). Fig. sense of "downcast, brought low" first attested 1520.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
abject

adjective
1. of the most contemptible kind; "abject cowardice"; "a low stunt to pull"; "a low-down sneak"; "his miserable treatment of his family"; "You miserable skunk!"; "a scummy rabble"; "a scurvy trick" 
2. most unfortunate or miserable; "the most abject slaves joined in the revolt"; "abject poverty" 
3. showing utter resignation or hopelessness; "abject surrender" 
4. showing humiliation or submissiveness; "an abject apology" 

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Abject

Ab"ject\, a. [L. abjectus, p. p. of abjicere to throw away; ab + jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth.]

1. Cast down; low-lying. [Obs.]

From the safe shore their floating carcasses And broken chariot wheels; so thick bestrown Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood. --Milton.

2. Sunk to a law condition; down in spirit or hope; degraded; servile; groveling; despicable; as, abject posture, fortune, thoughts. "Base and abject flatterers." --Addison. "An abject liar." --Macaulay.

And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams. --Shak.

Syn: Mean; groveling; cringing; mean-spirited; slavish; ignoble; worthless; vile; beggarly; contemptible; degraded.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Abject

Ab*ject"\, v. t. [From Abject, a.] To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower; to debase. [Obs.] --Donne.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Abject

Ab"ject\, n. A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a castaway. [Obs.]

Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts, know any thing of pleasure? --I. Taylor.

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