Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Abase
A-base′
(ȧ-bās′)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Abased
(ȧ-bāst′)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Abasing
.] 1.
To lower or depress; to throw or cast down;
as, to
. abase
the eye[Archaic]
Bacon.
Saying so, he
abased
his lance. Shelton.
2.
To cast down or reduce low or lower, as in rank, office, condition in life, or estimation of worthiness; to depress; to humble; to degrade.
Whosoever exalteth himself shall be
abased
. Luke xiv. ll.
Syn. – To
Abase
, Debase
, Degrade
. These words agree in the idea of bringing down from a higher to a lower state. Abase has reference to a bringing down in condition or feelings; as, to
. Debase has reference to the bringing down of a thing in purity, or making it base. It is, therefore, always used in a bad sense, as, to debase the coin of the kingdom, to debase the mind by vicious indulgence, to debase one's style by coarse or vulgar expressions. Degrade has reference to a bringing down from some higher grade or from some standard. Thus, a priest is degraded from the clerical office. When used in a moral sense, it denotes a bringing down in character and just estimation; as, degraded by intemperance, a degrading employment, etc. “Art is degraded when it is regarded only as a trade.” abase
the proud, to abase
one’s self before GodWebster 1828 Edition
Abase
ABA'SE
,Verb.
T.
low.
1.
The literal sense of abase is to lower or depress, to throw or cast down, as used by Bacon, "to abase the eye." But the word is seldom used in reference to material things.2.
To cast down; to reduce low; to depress; to humble; to degrade; applied to the passions, rank, office, and condition in life.Those that walk in pride he is able to abase. Dan. 4.
Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, Mat. 23. Job. 40. 2 Cor. 11.