Hyphenation
a·baseSynonyms
debase,
degrade,
belittle,
demean,
diminish,
disgrace,
dishonor,
humble,
humiliate,
lower,
mortify,
reduce,
shamePronunciation
Etymology
[ &-'bAs ] (transitive verb.) 15th century. From Old French abaissier, from a- + baissier (“to lower”), from Late Latin bassus (“short”).