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
—Related forms
[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]
] —Related forms
ab·ject·ly, adverb
ab·ject·ness, ab·ject·ed·ness, noun
—Synonyms 1. debasing, degrading; miserable. 2. base, mean, low, vile.
—Antonyms exalted.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| ab·ject
(āb'jěkt', āb-jěkt') Pronunciation Key
adj.
[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. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
abject
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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