Word: abase (verb)

Associations

To "abase" means to lower someone's dignity or self-worth. It often refers to making someone feel inferior or humiliated.

• Example 1: "He felt abased after being criticized in front of his peers." (Here, the person feels diminished in dignity due to criticism.)
• Example 2: "The teacher did not want to abase her students by pointing out their mistakes publicly." (In this case, the teacher avoids making students feel inferior.)
• Example 3: "She refused to abase herself by begging for forgiveness." (This shows someone standing firm in their self-respect.)

A well-known synonym for "abase" is "humiliate." The difference is that "humiliate" often implies public embarrassment, while "abase" can occur in private settings too.

Substitution

Other words that can be used in place of "abase" include:

• "belittle" – which means to make someone or something seem less impressive or important.
• "demean" – which means to cause a severe loss in the dignity of someone.
• "degrade" – which means to treat someone with disrespect.

Using these words can change the nuance. For example, "belittle" focuses more on making someone feel small, while "degrade" can imply a more serious loss of respect.

Deconstruction

The word "abase" comes from the prefix "a-" (which often means "to" or "toward") and the root "base," which means low or humble. So, it literally means to lower someone to a "base" level.

Historically, the term has roots in Middle English and Old French, where it was used in the context of lowering status or rank.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt abased or saw someone else being abased? What happened?
• How might the concept of abasing someone be different in various cultures?
• Why do you think some people choose to abase others? What could be the reasons behind such behavior?