[f. ABASE v. after Fr. abaissement: see -MENT.]
1. The action of abasing, lowering, casting down, or humbling, in rank or character; humiliation.
1561. T. N[orton], Calvin’s Inst., I. xiii. 47 (1634). The time was not yet come of his abasement.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, 266 (1869). And almost speak vntruly and iniuriously by way of abbasement.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, II. ii. 12 (1811). Pride in ourselves must, and forever will, provoke contempt, and bring down upon us abasement from others.
1857. Buckle, Civil., I. viii. 549. The abasement of the clergy preceded the humiliation of the crown.
2. The condition of being abased; humiliation, degradation.
1611. Bible, Ecclus. xx. 11. There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifteth vp his head from a low estate.
1747. Hervey, Medit., II. 136. The deepest Degrees of possible Abasement.
1828. Carlyle, Misc., I. 231 (1857). Conscious of its errors and abasement.
1860. R. A. Vaughan, Ho. w. Mystics (ed. 2), I. 153. True Abandonment, with utter Abasement, was the nearest way to God.
