The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Abase \A*base"\ ([.a]*b[=a]s"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abased
   ([.a]*b[=a]st"); p. pr. & vb. n. Abasing.] [F. abaisser,
   LL. abassare, abbassare; ad + bassare, fr. bassus low. See
   Base, a.]
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   1. To lower or depress; to throw or cast down; as, to abase
      the eye. [Archaic] --Bacon.
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            Saying so, he abased his lance.       --Shelton.
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   2. To cast down or reduce low or lower, as in rank, office,
      condition in life, or estimation of worthiness; to
      depress; to humble; to degrade.
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            Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased. --Luke
                                                  xiv. ll.
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   Syn: To Abase, Debase, Degrade. These words agree in
        the idea of bringing down from a higher to a lower
        state. Abase has reference to a bringing down in
        condition or feelings; as, to abase the proud, to abase
        one's self before God. Debase has reference to the
        bringing down of a thing in purity, or making it base.
        It is, therefore, always used in a bad sense, as, to
        debase the coin of the kingdom, to debase the mind by
        vicious indulgence, to debase one's style by coarse or
        vulgar expressions. Degrade has reference to a bringing
        down from some higher grade or from some standard. Thus,
        a priest is degraded from the clerical office. When used
        in a moral sense, it denotes a bringing down in
        character and just estimation; as, degraded by
        intemperance, a degrading employment, etc. "Art is
        degraded when it is regarded only as a trade."
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