Definition of ABJECT

abject

Meanings

Plural: abjects

Adjective Satellite

  • of the most contemptible kind
    • "abject cowardice"
  • most unfortunate or miserable
    • "the most abject slaves joined in the revolt"
    • "abject poverty"
  • showing utter resignation or hopelessness
    • "abject surrender"
  • showing humiliation or submissiveness
    • "an abject apology"

Adj

  • Existing in or sunk to a low condition, position, or state; contemptible, despicable, miserable.
  • Complete; downright; utter.
  • Lower than nearby areas; low-lying.
  • Of a person: cast down in hope or spirit; showing utter helplessness, hopelessness, or resignation; also, grovelling; ingratiating; servile.
  • Marginalized as deviant.

Noun

  • A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; an oppressed person; an outcast; also, such people as a class.

Verb

  • To cast off or out (someone or something); to reject, especially as contemptible or inferior.
  • To cast down (someone or something); to abase; to debase; to degrade; to lower; also, to forcibly impose obedience or servitude upon (someone); to subjugate.
  • Of a fungus: to (forcibly) give off (spores or sporidia).

Origin / Etymology

PIE word
*h₂epó
The adjective is derived from Late Middle English abiect, abject (adjective) [and other forms], from Middle French abject (modern French abject, abjet (obsolete)), and from its etymon Latin abiectus (“abandoned; cast aside”), an adjective use of the perfect passive participle of abiciō (“to discard, throw away”), from ab- (prefix meaning ‘away from’) + iaciō (“to throw”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(H)yeh₁- (“to throw”)).
The noun is derived from the adjective.
Cognates
* Italian abiecto (obsolete), abietto
* Late Latin abiectus (“humble or poor person”, noun)
* Spanish abjecto (obsolete), abyecto

Antonyms

unabject

Scrabble Score: 17

abject is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
abject is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
abject is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 21

abject is a valid Words With Friends word