v.
Pronunciation: ə - ' b ā s
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: abased ; abas · ing
Etymology: Middle English abassen, from Anglo-French abesser, abaisser, from a- (fr. Latin ad- ) + -besser, from Vulgar Latin *bassiare to lower
Date: 15th century
1 archaic : to lower physically
2 : to lower in rank, office, prestige, or esteem
– abase · ment \ - ' b ā s-m ə nt \ noun