Obs. [f. prec., like content vb. from content adj. ABJECT continued to be used for some time as its pa. pple. but was gradually superseded by abjected.]
1. To cast off, throw off or away, cast out, exclude, reject, lit. and fig.; generally, though not always, as inferior, unworthy, or vile, and hence passing into the idea of casting down, degrading.
c. 1475. Henryson, Moral Fables, 42. Arguments they reuolue, some abjecting, and some can hald.
1509. Barclay, Ship of Fooles (1570), 217. To learne the wayes his vices to abiect.
1534. Polyd. Verg., Eng. Hist., I. 89. The Brittaines … abjecting the Romaine yoke, created him kinge.
1587. Gascoigne, Workes; Hearbes, Weedes, 287. A Lover being disdainfully abiected by a dame of high calling.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gr. Brit., IX. xxiv. 104. Dauid durst not touch Saul, though he was abiected by God.
1650. Venner, Via Recta, 111. The Spawn of them is to be abjected.
2. To cast or throw down; hence fig. to lower, degrade, abase, debase.
1553. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 167/2. Such of the cleargie as abjected themselues to be underlings or servants.
1557. Geneva N. T., 1 Cor. iv. 10, note. In abiecting him selfe and exalting the Corinthians he maketh them ashamed of their vayne glorie.
1563. Homilies, II. (1859), 445. A gross carnal feeding, basely abjecting and binding ourselves to the elements and creatures.
1604. T. Wright, Passions of the Mind, v. § 3. 181. The eye … may be grauely eleuated vp to heuen or abjected to earth.
1630–40. Donne, Serm., ix. 22. What phrases of abjecting themselves in respect of the Prince, can exceed David’s humble expressing of himself to Saul?
