abject

abject · adjective, noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(H)yeh₁-“to throw”
2. Latin · derived fromabiectus“abandoned; cast aside”
3. Middle French · derived fromabject
4. Middle English · inherited fromabiect
5. English todayabject

PIE word *h₂epó The adjective is derived from Late Middle English abiect, abject (adjective) [and other forms], from Middle French abject (modern French abject, abjet (obsolete)), and from its etymon Latin abiectus (“abandoned; cast aside”), an adjective use of the perfect passive participle of abiciō (“to discard, throw away”), from ab- (prefix meaning ‘away from’) + iaciō (“to throw”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(H)yeh₁- (“to throw”)). The noun is derived from the adjective. Cognates * Italian abiecto (obsolete), abietto * Late Latin abiectus (“humble or poor person”, noun) * Spanish abjecto (obsolete), abyecto

abject · verb²

1. Middle English · inherited fromabjecten“to cast out, expel”
2. English todayabject

From Late Middle English abjecten (“to cast out, expel”) [and other forms], from abiect, abject (adjective) (see etymology 1). Sense 3 (“of a fungus: to give off (spores or sporidia)”) is modelled after German abschleudern (“to give off forcefully”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from early 15th c. Existing in or sunk to a low condition, position, or state; contemptible, despicable, miserable.
• from mid 14th c. Of a person: cast down in hope or spirit; showing utter helplessness, hopelessness, or resignation; also, grovelling; ingratiating; servile.
• from early 16th c. A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; an oppressed person; an outcast; also, such people as a class.
• from 15th c. To cast off or out (someone or something); to reject, especially as contemptible or inferior.
• from 15th c. To cast down (someone or something); to abase; to debase; to degrade; to lower; also, to forcibly impose obedience or servitude upon (someone); to subjugate.