2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Abase  \A*base"\  ([.a]*b[=a]s"),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Abased} 
  ([.a]*b[=a]st");  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Abasing}.]  [F.  abaisser 
  LL  abassare  abbassare  ad  +  bassare  fr  bassus  low  See 
  {Base},  a.] 
  1.  To  lower  or  depress;  to  throw  or  cast  down  as  to  abase 
  the  eye.  [Archaic]  --Bacon. 
 
  Saying  so  he  abased  his  lance.  --Shelton. 
 
  2.  To  cast  down  or  reduce  low  or  lower,  as  in  rank,  office, 
  condition  in  life,  or  estimation  of  worthiness;  to 
  depress;  to  humble;  to  degrade. 
 
  Whosoever  exalteth  himself  shall  be  abased.  --Luke 
  xiv.  ll 
 
  Syn:  To  {Abase},  {Debase},  {Degrade}.  These  words  agree  in 
  the  idea  of  bringing  down  from  a  higher  to  a  lower 
  state.  Abase  has  reference  to  a  bringing  down  in 
  condition  or  feelings;  as  to  abase  the  proud,  to  abase 
  one's  self  before  God.  Debase  has  reference  to  the 
  bringing  down  of  a  thing  in  purity,  or  making  it  base. 
  It  is  therefore,  always  used  in  a  bad  sense  as  to 
  debase  the  coin  of  the  kingdom,  to  debase  the  mind  by 
  vicious  indulgence,  to  debase  one's  style  by  coarse  or 
  vulgar  expressions.  Degrade  has  reference  to  a  bringing 
  down  from  some  higher  grade  or  from  some  standard.  Thus 
  a  priest  is  degraded  from  the  clerical  office.  When  used 
  in  a  moral  sense  it  denotes  a  bringing  down  in 
  character  and  just  estimation;  as  degraded  by 
  intemperance,  a  degrading  employment,  etc  ``Art  is 
  degraded  when  it  is  regarded  only  as  a  trade.'' 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  abase 
  v  :  lower  in  esteem;  hurt  the  pride  of  [syn:  {humiliate},  {mortify}, 
  {chagrin},  {humble}] 

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