- Today's Word
Abject
AB-jekt
Definition
- (adjective) Extremely bad, degrading, or wretched; experienced or present to the maximum degree.
Example
They lived in abject poverty, with little food or shelter to get through the winter.
Fun Fact
“Abject” comes from the Latin abjicere, meaning “to throw away.” Originally referring to someone cast down or rejected, the term evolved to describe utter hopelessness or misery. It’s commonly used to emphasize emotional extremes—abject fear, abject failure, abject humiliation—highlighting situations where someone feels completely defeated or exposed.
(noun) A state of pleasant tiredness or dreamy inactivity; a soft, luxurious lack of energy or motivation.
The long afternoon, the slow ceiling fan, and the smell of rain left her in a state of deep, contented languor.