Where does “abase” come from?
Abase comes from Middle English abashen, from Middle French abaisser, from Latin ad- and ex- combined with a root from Ancient Greek βάσις, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʷémtis.
abase (English): To lower, as in condition in life, office, rank,...
Definitions
- To lower, as in condition in life, office, rank,...
Ancestry of “abase”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | abaishen | Alternative spelling of abashen |
| 2 | Middle French | abaisser | to astonish, alter |
| 3 | Old French | abaissier | to prostrate oneself; to lower, to reduce |
| 4 | Old French | baissier | to lower |
| 5 | Vulgar Latin | bassio | I lower |
| 6 | Latin | Bassus | thick, fat, stumpy, short, low, base |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | βάσις | step; rhythm; foot |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | gʷə́tis | step |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷémtis | step, act of walking |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷem- | to step |