Abject

Ab*ject" (?), v. t. [From Abject, a.] To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower; to debase. [Obs.] Donne.

Ab"ject (?), n. A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a castaway. [Obs.]

Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts, know any thing of pleasure?
I. Taylor.

Ab"ject (?), a. [L. abjectus, p. p. of abjicere to throw away; ab + jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth.] 1. Cast down; low- lying. [Obs.]

From the safe shore their floating carcasses
And broken chariot wheels; so thick bestrown
Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood.
Milton.

2. Sunk to a law condition; down in spirit or hope; degraded; servile; groveling; despicable; as, abject posture, fortune, thoughts. "Base and abject flatterers." Addison. "An abject liar." Macaulay.

And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams.
Shak.

Syn. -- Mean; groveling; cringing; mean-spirited; slavish; ignoble; worthless; vile; beggarly; contemptible; degraded.