Obs. [f. as prec. + -MENT.]
1. A lowering in place, dignity, power, etc.; degradation; = ABASEMENT. lit. and fig.
1575. Fenton, Golden Epistles, 95. This wonderfull embasement of estate whiche the sonne of God tooke vppon him.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Rom. iii. 10. They esteemed it a great imbasement for such to be in Gods debt.
1635. Barriffe, Milit. Discip. (1643), iii. 347. Suffering too much imbasement, as being often undervalued.
1656. Jeanes, Mixt. Schol. Div., 60. Earthly mindedness … is a great depressure and embasement thereof.
1692. South, Serm., VIII. iv. (R.). The pleasures of sin … receive a further embasement … from the super-addition of a curse.
2. A debasement of precious metal by mixture of base metal; = ABASE 3. Also fig.
1676. Hale, Contempl., II. 64–5. The very Soul of Man … receives a Tincture and an imbasement by them.
1709. Stanhope, Paraphr., IV. 65. Most of Us have … Vices, for an Allay and Embasement to our … Vertues.
