- Today's Word
Abase
[uh-BAYSS]
Definition
- (verb) To behave in a way that belittles or degrades oneself, to lower oneself in dignity, or to humble oneself, often in a degrading way. It refers to the act of lowering one’s status, pride, or self-respect, either voluntarily or through circumstances.
Example
The once-proud executive had to abase himself before the board, apologizing for his mistakes and begging to keep his position.
Fun Fact
“Abase” comes from Old French “a-” (meaning “to, toward”) and “bas” (meaning “low, down”), literally meaning “to bring low.” The word dates back to the 14th century and has interesting historical connections to medieval court etiquette. In medieval courts, the act of abasement was often a formal ritual where individuals would physically lower themselves before royalty or high-ranking nobles. The degree to which one had to abase oneself was precisely calculated based on social rank – a duke might only need to bow slightly, while a commoner would need to prostrate themselves completely. Interestingly, the related word “basement” shares the same root, referring to the lowest part of a building. The concept was so important in medieval society that there were actually handbooks detailing the proper ways to show abasement depending on one’s social status and the rank of the person being honored.