rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: iacere
Latin

iacere

throw, cast

Forms

  • iac-
  • iact- — Latin stem of the form meaning ‘thrown.’
  • -ic- — Used in Latin compounds.
  • -iect- — Stem of the form meaning ‘thrown’ in Latin compounds.
  • -ject- — English spelling of the compound stem.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ye-, ‘throw; impel.’

Note

Latin vowel length distinguishes this verb from iacēre, ‘lie down.’

1 / 18
adjective

abject

AB-jekt/ˈæbdʒekt/

Reduced to an extreme state of misery or humiliation.

He sits in abject misery on the cold, wet pavement.

A young man sits collapsed on cold pavement beside a bare wall, wearing worn, rain-soaked clothing.
Etymology
abLatinaway, off, from
+jectLatinthrow, cast

The literal image is being thrown away or cast off. Applied to people and their condition, it became being brought low or degraded, which underlies the sense of extreme misery or hopelessness.

In context

Storytime Haven260:09
Sadly she turned over in her bed, and with shut eyes put her burning face on the pillow, to hide, as it were, from herself her abject depth of shame.
✨ The Man by Bram Stoker | A Tale of Love, Courage & Destiny 📖

More examples

  • The prisoners lived in abject poverty.
  • He offered an abject apology and begged to be forgiven.
  • Their campaign ended in abject failure.

Forms

abject · more abject · most abject

Similar words

wretched
Emphasizes misery without always implying degradation.
destitute
Destitute lacks necessities; abject emphasizes misery or degradation beyond material need alone.