From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Abject \Ab*ject"\ ([a^]b*j[e^]kt"), v. t. [From Abject, a.]
To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower;
to debase. [Obs.] --Donne.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Abject \Ab"ject\ ([a^]b"j[e^]kt), n.
A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a
castaway. [Obs.]
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Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts,
know any thing of pleasure? --I. Taylor.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
abject \ab"ject\ ([a^]b"j[e^]kt), 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.]
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From the safe shore their floating carcasses
And broken chariot wheels; so thick bestrown
Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood.
--Milton.
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2. Degraded; servile; groveling; despicable; as, abject
posture, fortune, thoughts. "Base and abject flatterers."
--Addison. "An abject liar." --Macaulay.
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And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams. --Shak.
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3. Sunk to a low condition; down in spirit or hope;
miserable; -- of persons.
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4. Humiliating; degrading; wretched; -- of situations; as,
abject poverty.
[PJC]
Syn: Mean; groveling; cringing; mean-spirited; slavish;
ignoble; worthless; vile; beggarly; contemptible;
degraded.
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