Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ABASE

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"ABASE" Pronunciation: uh BASE Part of speech: Transitive verb. Like "eat," "try," and "want," all transitive verbs do something to an object. (You eat a banana, try a game, and want a new phone.) Likewise, you abase someone or something. Meaning: To abase someone or something, or to abase yourself, is to make that person or thing have a lower reputation or lower level of respect. Other forms: abased, abasing, abasement How to use it: Talk about someone or something abasing himself/herself/itself by doing something. We almost always use it reflexively like that: I abase myself, you abase yourself, he abases himself, and so on. Stand-up comedians are usually willing to abase themselves for the sake of humor, making jokes at their own expense while revealing their weaknesses, physical imperfections, and bad habits. You won't abase yourself by taking a job as a janitor, so take pride in your work and be grateful for the employment. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You'll know you understand what "abase" means when you can explain it without saying "reputation" or "respect." Think of the last time you did or said something embarrassing that made yourself look less honorable or less respectable than you really are, and fill in the blank: "I can't believe I abased myself by _____." If you can't remember having done something like this, use a friend's behavior as your example instead. Example: "I can't believe I abased myself by yelling at the waiter when the mistake with the food wasn't even his fault." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don't go straight to the review now;let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: This month's game is "guess the common word based on the given literal root meanings." Try it out each day and see the right answer the next day. It can be fun and illuminating to see the literal meanings of words when they came into the language! More than one right answer might be possible in some cases, just so you know. Also, it's okay if you can't come up with most or even any of the answers on your own; just check out the solutions and you'll learn the roots as you go along this month. Example: "out of" + "rule" + "having" = ? Answer: "ENORMOUS" Try this one today: "forward" + "throw" = ? A Point Well Made: William H. Armstrong: "If a flower blooms once, it goes on blooming somewhere forever. It blooms on for whoever has seen it blooming." 1. The opposite of ABASE is A. ATTIC B. ELEVATE C. COMPLICATE 2. After his girlfriend broke up with him, Rob was unwilling to abase himself by ______. A. going out with his friends to have fun B. dating someone else immediately C. begging her to take him back Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. C