abject — abject, e [ abʒɛkt ] adj. • av. 1460; lat. abjectus ♦ Digne du plus grand mépris, qui inspire une violente répulsion. ⇒ abominable, dégoûtant, ignoble, infâme, méprisable, odieux, vil. Un être abject. Il a été abject. Des sentiments abjects. Son… … Encyclopédie Universelle
abject — abject, ecte (ab jè kt ou ab jè, au fém. abjè kt ) adj. Qui est rejeté et digne de l être ; et, par conséquent, vil, méprisable. Les âmes abjectes. Il est d une naissance abjecte. • Tout ce qu il y a de grand et tout ce qu il y a d abject, PASC … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
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.] [1913 Webster] From the safe shore their floating carcasses And broken chariot wheels;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
abject — ► ADJECTIVE 1) extremely unpleasant and degrading: abject poverty. 2) completely without pride or dignity: an abject apology. DERIVATIVES abjection noun abjectly adverb abjectness noun. ORIGIN Latin abjectus rejected , from jacere to throw … English terms dictionary
abject — [ab′jekt΄, ab jekt′] adj. [ME < L abjectus, pp. of abjicere, to throw away < ab , from + jacere, to throw: see JET1] 1. of the lowest degree; miserable; wretched [abject poverty] 2. lacking self respect; degraded [an abject coward] SYN.… … English World dictionary
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. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
abject — ABJECT, [abj]ecte. Adj. Méprisable, bas, vil, dont on ne fait nulle estime. Il se dit principalement de la naissance & de la condition. Un homme abject. condition abjecte. des emplois, des usages vils & abjects … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
Abject — Ab ject ([a^]b j[e^]kt), n. A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a castaway. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts, know any thing of pleasure? I. Taylor. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
abject — I adjective base, boorish, common, contemptible, corrupt, cowardly, craven, debased, degenerate, degraded, depraved, despicable, discreditable, dishonest, dishonorable, disreputable, ignoble, ignominious, inferior, inglorious, mean, penitent,… … Law dictionary
abject — (adj.) early 15c., cast off, rejected, from L. abjectus, pp. of abicere to throw away, cast off; degrade, humble, lower, from ab away, off (see AB (Cf. ab )) + iacere to throw (pp. iactus; see JET (Cf. jet) (v.)). Figurative sense of … Etymology dictionary
