abject

abject
abject ab"ject ([a^]b"j[e^]kt), 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.] [1913 Webster]

From the safe shore their floating carcasses And broken chariot wheels; so thick bestrown Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Degraded; servile; groveling; despicable; as, abject posture, fortune, thoughts. ``Base and abject flatterers.'' --Addison. ``An abject liar.'' --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. Sunk to a low condition; down in spirit or hope; miserable; -- of persons. [1913 Webster]

4. Humiliating; degrading; wretched; -- of situations; as, abject poverty. [PJC]

Syn: Mean; groveling; cringing; mean-spirited; slavish; ignoble; worthless; vile; beggarly; contemptible; degraded. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • abject — abject, e [ abʒɛkt ] adj. • av. 1460; lat. abjectus ♦ Digne du plus grand mépris, qui inspire une violente répulsion. ⇒ abominable, dégoûtant, ignoble, infâme, méprisable, odieux, vil. Un être abject. Il a été abject. Des sentiments abjects. Son… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • abject — abject, ecte (ab jè kt ou ab jè, au fém. abjè kt ) adj. Qui est rejeté et digne de l être ; et, par conséquent, vil, méprisable. Les âmes abjectes. Il est d une naissance abjecte. •   Tout ce qu il y a de grand et tout ce qu il y a d abject, PASC …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • abject — abjéct, ă adj. care inspiră dezgust, repulsie, dispreţ; abominabil. (< fr. abject, lat. abiectus) Trimis de tavi, 08.01.2003. Sursa: MDN  ABJÉCT, Ă, abjecţi, te, adj. Care inspiră repulsie, dispreţ; josnic, netrebnic, mizerabil. – Din fr.… …   Dicționar Român

  • abject — ► ADJECTIVE 1) extremely unpleasant and degrading: abject poverty. 2) completely without pride or dignity: an abject apology. DERIVATIVES abjection noun abjectly adverb abjectness noun. ORIGIN Latin abjectus rejected , from jacere to throw …   English terms dictionary

  • abject — [ab′jekt΄, ab jekt′] adj. [ME < L abjectus, pp. of abjicere, to throw away < ab , from + jacere, to throw: see JET1] 1. of the lowest degree; miserable; wretched [abject poverty] 2. lacking self respect; degraded [an abject coward] SYN.… …   English World dictionary

  • Abject — Ab*ject ([a^]b*j[e^]kt ), v. t. [From {Abject}, a.] To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower; to debase. [Obs.] Donne. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • abject — ABJECT, [abj]ecte. Adj. Méprisable, bas, vil, dont on ne fait nulle estime. Il se dit principalement de la naissance & de la condition. Un homme abject. condition abjecte. des emplois, des usages vils & abjects …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Abject — Ab ject ([a^]b j[e^]kt), n. A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a castaway. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts, know any thing of pleasure? I. Taylor. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • abject — I adjective base, boorish, common, contemptible, corrupt, cowardly, craven, debased, degenerate, degraded, depraved, despicable, discreditable, dishonest, dishonorable, disreputable, ignoble, ignominious, inferior, inglorious, mean, penitent,… …   Law dictionary

  • abject — (adj.) early 15c., cast off, rejected, from L. abjectus, pp. of abicere to throw away, cast off; degrade, humble, lower, from ab away, off (see AB (Cf. ab )) + iacere to throw (pp. iactus; see JET (Cf. jet) (v.)). Figurative sense of …   Etymology dictionary

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