abject
pronunciation
How to pronounce abject in British English:
UK [ˈæbdʒekt]
How to pronounce abject in American English:
US [ˈæbˌdʒɛkt, æbˈdʒɛkt]
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- Adjective:
- of the most contemptible kind
- most unfortunate or miserable
- showing utter resignation or hopelessness
- showing humiliation or submissiveness
Word Origin
- abject (adj.)
- early 15c., "cast off, rejected," from Latin abiectus, past participle of abicere "to throw away, cast off; degrade, humble, lower," from ab- "away, off" (see ab-) + iacere "to throw" (past participle iactus; see jet (v.)). Figurative sense of "downcast, brought low" first attested 1510s. Related: Abjectly; abjectness.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Mr meles lifted millions out of abject poverty and devoted himself to finding workable development policies .
- 2. Being cheated is absolutely abject .
- 3. All the people in the city knew that he was an abject liar .
- 4. But economic mismanagement and rampant corruption have kept the people in abject poverty .
- 5. He was anything but an abject coward .