verb
abase
uh-BAYS/əˈbeɪs/
To lower someone's dignity or standing.
The supervisor abases the manager by publicly removing his badge of rank.
Etymology
Ad- and bassus give the image of bringing someone low. The physical idea of bending or lowering connects to reducing a person’s rank or dignity, treating social standing as a height.
In context
it was dangerous to give yourself into my power to abase yourself before me
More examples
- She refused to abase herself to win his approval.
- Public insults abased the defeated official.
- He resented the ritual of abasing himself before his employer.
Forms
abase · abases · abased · abasing