Middle English Dictionary Entry
abject ppl.
Entry Info
| Forms | abject ppl. Also obiect. |
| Etymology | L ppl. abject-um |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Outcast, rejected; wretched; expelled (from a place, an office, society); ~ to regnen, deposed.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)41/9 : We þat ben in pilgrimage of þis world, as abiect & oute caste, we schulden make no waast housis for to dwelle ynne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1334 : For of hym silf ashamed & confus, As man forsake, abiect, and refus, Riȝt so ferde he.
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)636 : O soule abiect, desolat & forsake, Greet cause haast thow.. to qwake.
- (?c1425) Hoccl.Jonathas (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)199 : Wel worthy were it me to been abiect ffrom al good conpaignie.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.290 : He was repreued..As abiect to regne in Israel.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.508 : Thus was Saul..Forsake off God..Abiect also doun from his roial see.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.3937 : Cirus..Which off al Asie was..emperour, Now lith he abiect, withoute sepulture.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)398 : I throwyn am a-syde and owte off my ladiis grace Sumtyme in fauer, but now fro alle creaturys abiecte.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)362/45 : O how desolate schalbe þanne my soule & abiecte passynge alle oþere soulles!
- a1475(?1431) Lydg.Defence HC (Hrl 1245)108 : Thynke how Saule, from his kyngly place And frome thonour of his royall see, Whilome was abiect.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.15 : Wer is now that mayne, thou stynkyng and abjecte, That thou wert wont so ryally to fede?
2.
(a) Of persons: humble, lowly, of low estate; (b) of things: poor, worthless, of low quality; (c) of a task: not honorable, humble, menial.
Associated quotations
a
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)80 : He willeth not to be in reputacioun of men, but coueiteth fully to be despised and holde as foule, vnworthy, and abiecte.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)105/30 : He þat first was schewid glorios and potent, after he was seen feble and abiect.
b
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)56 : Suche a litell childe so sympilly clothed, founden with so pore a moder, in so abiecte a place.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)338/3 : So þe spowse of þi sowle, euerlastynge wisdam, with-owtforþ semeþ as in despite, fowle and abiecte.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.164 : It schulde defouled be in this, And in hymself more obiect [vr. more abiect; L abiectius] ben and base.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Christina Mirab.(Dc 114)126/13 : Þe meet þat she vsyd was foule and abiecte.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)81/11 : Sche sate neuere at borde, but eete of..here broke mete þat was most abiecte.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget (Gar 145)31/37 : Cloth þat is litele worth and is calledde of men vile and abiecte is verely feyr anenste God.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)67/17 : I am þi most poure seruaunt, and an abiecte worme.
c
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)333/22 : Þei scholdene more likynglye be stirede to þat dede or þat warke þat is fowle and abiecte in his kynde, þan to a noþer þat is mor wircheppfulle.