Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Abase?

\A*base"\ ([.a]*b[=a]s"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abased} ([.a]*b[=a]st"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Abasing}.] [F. abaisser, LL. abassare, abbassare; ad + bassare, fr. bassus low. See {Base}, a.] 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 abase the proud, to abase one's self before God. 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.''