Hypertext Webster Gateway: "abject"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Abject \Ab"ject\, a. [L. abjectus, p. p. of abjicere to throw
away; ab + jacere to throw. See {Jet} a shooting forth.]
1. Cast down; low-lying. [Obs.]
From the safe shore their floating carcasses And
broken chariot wheels; so thick bestrown Abject and
lost lay these, covering the flood. --Milton.
2. Sunk to a law condition; down in spirit or hope; degraded;
servile; groveling; despicable; as, abject posture,
fortune, thoughts. ``Base and abject flatterers.''
--Addison. ``An abject liar.'' --Macaulay.
And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams. --Shak.
Syn: Mean; groveling; cringing; mean-spirited; slavish;
ignoble; worthless; vile; beggarly; contemptible;
degraded.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Abject \Ab*ject"\, v. t. [From {Abject}, a.]
To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower;
to debase. [Obs.] --Donne.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Abject \Ab"ject\, n.
A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a
castaway. [Obs.]
Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts,
know any thing of pleasure? --I. Taylor.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
abject
adj 1: of the most contemptible kind; "abject cowardice"; "a low
stunt to pull"; "a low-down sneak"; "his miserable
treatment of his family"; "You miserable skunk!"; "a
scummy rabble"; "a scurvy trick" [syn: {low}, {low-down},
{miserable}, {scummy}, {scurvy}]
2: most unfortunate or miserable; "the most abject slaves
joined in the revolt"; "abject poverty"
3: showing utter resignation or hopelessness; "abject
surrender" [syn: {resigned}, {unhopeful}]
4: showing humiliation or submissiveness; "an abject apology"
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