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.
© Webster 1913.
Ab*ject" (#), v. t. [From Abject, a.]
To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower; to debase.
[Obs.]
Donne.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.