Emily Dickinson Lexicon

A-BASE', v.t. [Fr. abaisser, from bas, low, or the bottom; W. bais; Latin and Gr. basis; Eng. base; It. abbassare; Sp. baxo, low. See Abash.]

1. The literal sense of abase is to lower or depress, to throw or cast down, as used by Bacon, "to abase the eye." But the word is seldom used in reference to material things.
2. To cast down; to reduce low; to depress; to humble; to degrade; applied to the passions, rank, office, and condition in life. Those that walk in pride he is able to abase. Dan. iv. Whoever exalteth himself shall be abased. Mat. xxiii. Job xl. 2 Cor. xi.