Etymology of the English word abject
the English word
abjectderived from the Latin word
abiectus (thrown or cast away; downcast, dejected; humble)
derived from the Latin word
abiicere (throw, cast away, down)
using the Latin prefix
ab- (away; wrongly, badly)
derived from the Late Latin word
iacere (to throw; lie; lie down; lie ill; throw, hurl, cast)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*yē-derived from the Latin word
abicere (humble; cast aside, away; throw, cast away, down)
using the Latin prefix
ab- (away; wrongly, badly)
derived from the Latin word
icere (hit, strike; smite)
Date
The earliest known usage of abject in English dates from the 14th century.
Derivations in English
abjectiveUsage
Word found in Modern English
