abject

[ ab-jekt, ab-jekt ]
/ ˈæb dʒɛkt, æbˈdʒɛkt /

adjective

utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, or wretched: abject poverty.
contemptible; despicable; base-spirited: an abject coward.
shamelessly servile; slavish.
Obsolete. cast aside.

Origin of abject

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin abjectus thrown down (past participle of abicere, abjicere), equivalent to ab- ab- + -jec- throw + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM abject

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH abject

abject object

Example sentences from the Web for abjectly

British Dictionary definitions for abjectly

abject
/ (ˈæbdʒɛkt) /

adjective

utterly wretched or hopeless
miserable; forlorn; dejected
indicating humiliation; submissive an abject apology
contemptible; despicable; servile an abject liar

Derived forms of abject

abjection, noun abjectly, adverb abjectness, noun

Word Origin for abject

C14: (in the sense: rejected, cast out): from Latin abjectus thrown or cast away, from abjicere, from ab- away + jacere to throw