The English language is rich in vocabulary, and there are numerous words that one may come across every day. One such word is “abase,” which has a unique meaning and is not commonly used. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of abase, its origin, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.
Definitions
The word abase is a verb, and it means to humiliate, degrade, or lower someone’s self-esteem or reputation. It is an act of reducing someone’s status or position in society. Abase is often used in a negative context when someone is being mistreated or disrespected.
Origin
The word abase comes from the Middle English word “abaisen,” which means to lower or humble oneself. The word has its roots in the Old French word “abaissier,” which means to lower or depress. The word has been in use since the 14th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, abase means “to lower in rank, office, prestige, or esteem; to humiliate, degrade, or reduce to a lower state or condition.”
According to Merriam-Webster, abase means “to lower in esteem, degrade, or humiliate.”
Associations
Abase is often associated with acts of disrespect and mistreatment. It can be used to describe situations where someone is being humiliated or degraded. Abase is also associated with power dynamics, where someone in a position of authority may use their power to abase someone else.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of abase include humiliate, degrade, dishonor, demean, belittle, and lower.
Antonyms
Some antonyms of abase include elevate, honor, respect, exalt, and dignify.
The same root words
The word abase has the same root word as “abash,” which means to cause someone to feel embarrassed or ashamed.
Example Sentences
- The boss abased the employee in front of the entire team.
- The politician’s scandal abased his reputation in the public eye.
- The bully abased the new kid in school by calling him names.
- The teacher abased the student by giving her a failing grade even though she deserved better.
- The coach abased the athlete by benching him for no reason.