adjective Heraldry.
- (of a charge) lower on an escutcheon than is usual: a bend abased.
verb (used with object), a·based, a·bas·ing.
- to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble; degrade.
- Archaic. to lower; put or bring down: He abased his head.
verb (tr)
- to humble or belittle (oneself, etc)
- to lower or reduce, as in rank or estimation
late 14c., abaishen, from Old French abaissier “diminish, make lower in value or status” (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *ad bassiare “bring lower,” from Late Latin bassus “thick, fat, low;” from the same source as base (adj.) and altered 16c. in English by influence of it, which made it an exception to the rule that Old French verbs with stem -iss- enter English as -ish. Related: Abased; abasing.