abject

ab·ject

adj \ˈab-ˌjekt\

Definition of ABJECT

1

: sunk to or existing in a low state or condition <to lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fallen — John Milton>

2

a : cast down in spirit : servile, spiritless <a man made abject by suffering> b : showing hopelessness or resignation <abject surrender>

3

: expressing or offered in a humble and often ingratiating spirit <abject flattery> <an abject apology>

— ab·ject·ly \ˈab-ˌjek(t)-lē, ab-ˈ\ adverb

— ab·ject·ness \-ˌjek(t)-nəs, -ˈjek(t)-\ noun

Examples of ABJECT

1. They live in abject misery.
2. He offered an abject apology.
3. She thought he was an abject coward.
4. … the time would come that no human being should be humiliated or be made abject. —Katherine Anne Porter, The Never-Ending Wrong, 1977
5. … my critical intelligence sometimes shrivels to an abject nodding of the head. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, May 1971
6. … nothing seemed to have changed at the Beehive across the years. The same pallid employees were visible in the same abject state of peonage, cringing under the whiplash of overseers. —S. J. Perelman, Baby, It's Cold Inside, 1970

Origin of ABJECT

Middle English, from Latin abjectus, from past participle of abicere to cast off, from ab- + jacere to throw — more at jet

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to ABJECT

Synonyms: base, humble, menial, servile, slavish

Related Words: hangdog, lamblike, sheepish; demure, lowly, meek, modest, retiring, unassuming, unpretentious; fawning, sycophant, sycophantic, toadyish

Near Antonyms: arrogant, haughty, high-handed, imperious, lordly, supercilious, superior, uppity

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See Synonym Discussion at mean

Rhymes with ABJECT

advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked