Definition 1: Of the worst or lowest kind, despicable.

Usage 1: The adjective is used far more frequently than the verb abject [æb-'jekt] "to cast down, degrade." When we think of the smallest linguistic element of meaning, a morpheme, we usually think of prefixes, suffixes, etc. However, morphemes can be odder as in this case, the mere shift of accent can trigger an additional meaning—verb ab'ject : adjective 'abject; verb sur'vey : noun 'survey, verb re'run. : noun 'rerun. English has thousands of such pairs. "Abjectly" is the adverb for today's word and "abjectness" is the noun.

Suggested usage: The cliché to avoid is "abject poverty;" it is too obvious for YDC word mavens. If Louie is the sort of person that gives moral degenerates a bad name, you can say, "The word 'depraved' understates Louie's character; Louie is an abject moral degenerate." Of course, "abject depravity" works, too. "Freddy, would a piece of Sacher torte and a cup of cappuccino lift you from your abject misery?"

Etymology: Latin abiectus, past participle of abicere "to cast away" based on ab- "from, away" + iacere "to throw." "Ab" comes from PIE ap(o) "off, away" that appears in English "of," "off," and "ebb," the tide that goes away. It could also be the source of Russian po "according to, after." Latin iacere developed into French jeter "throw" which underlies English "jet," "jettison," "jetty," and "jetsam" (from earlier "jetson," itself a degradation of "jettison.")