• (British) IPA: /ˈæb.d͡ʒɛkt/, enPR: ăbʹjĕkt
• (attributive) (America) IPA: /ˈæb.d͡ʒɛkt/, enPR: ăbʹjĕkt
• (postpositive) (America) IPA: /æbˈd͡ʒɛkt/, enPR: ăbjĕktʹ

abject (comparative abjecter, superlative abjectest)

1. Sunk to or existing in a low condition, state, or position. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]
2. Cast down in spirit or hope; degraded; servile; grovelling; despicable; lacking courage; offered in a humble and often ingratiating spirit. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]
   • c. 1590–1592, William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene ii]:

     And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams.

3. Showing utter hopelessness, helplessness; showing resignation; wretched. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]
4. (obsolete) Rejected; cast aside. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the early 17^th century.]

• beggarly, contemptible, cringing, degraded, groveling, ignoble, mean, mean-spirited, slavish, vile, worthless

• abjectly
• abjectness

• French: abject, abjecte, méprisable
• German: elend, kläglich, jämmerlich
• Italian: abbietto
• Spanish: abatido

• French: misérable
• German: bitter poverty, verächtlich
• Russian: жалкий

• Russian: смире́нный

abject (plural abjects)

1. A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a castaway; outcast. [from late 15h c.]
   • 1830, Walter Scott, “Auchindrane; or, The Ayrshire Tragedy”, in The Doom of Devorgoil, a Melo-drama; Auchindrane; or, The Ayrshire Tragedy, Edinburgh: Printed [by Ballantyne and Company] for Cadell and Company; London: Simpkin and Marshall, OCLC 742335644 ↗, Act III, scene i, page 309 ↗:

     Hear ye the serf I bred, begin to reckon / Upon his rights and pleasure! Who am I— / Thou abject, who am I, whose will thou thwartest?

• French: misérable, paria
• Italian: abbietto

• IPA: /æbˈdʒɛkt/

abject (abjects, present participle abjecting; past and past participle abjected)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To cast off or out; to reject. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 17^th century.]
2. (transitive, obsolete) To cast down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower; to debase. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 17^th century.]

• abjection