debase, v.
(dɪˈbeɪs)
Also 6 debace.
[Formed in 16th c. from de- I. 1, 3 + base v.1: cf. abase.]
† 1. trans. To lower in position, rank, or dignity; to abase. Obs.
| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 69 The king hath debased himselfe ynough to the Bishop. Ibid. II. 75 Debasyng himselfe with great humilitie and submission before the sayde two Cardinalles. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, iii. iii. 190 Faire Cousin, you debase your Princely Knee, To make the base Earth prowd with kissing it. 1610 Healey St. Aug. Citie of God iii. xvi. (1620) 121 Brutus debased Collatine and banished him the city. 1648 Wilkins Math. Magick i. i. 4 The ancient Philosophers..refusing to debase the principles of that noble profession unto Mechanical experiments. 1671 Milton Samson 999 God sent her to debase me. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 187 ¶4 A man [in Greenland] will not debase himself by work, which requires neither skill nor courage. 1827 Pollok Course T. v, Debased in sackcloth, and forlorn in tears. |
† 2. To lower in estimation; to decry, depreciate, vilify. Obs.
| 1565 T. Stapleton Fortr. Faith 62 The Manichee..would so extol grace, and debace the nature of man. 1600 Holland Livy ix. xxxvii. 341 Praising highly..the Samnites warres, debasing the Tuscanes. 1704 J. Blair in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. I. 98, I have heard him often debase and vilify the Gentlemen of the Council, using to them the opprob[r]ious names of Rogue, Rascal [etc.]. 1746 Hervey Medit. (1818) 15 Why should we exalt ourselves or debase others? |
3. To lower in quality, value, or character; to make base, degrade; to adulterate. b. spec. To lower the value of (coin) by the mixture of alloy or otherwise; to depreciate.
| 1591 Spenser Tears of Muses, Urania iii, Ignorance..That mindes of men borne heavenlie doth debace. 1602 W. Fulbecke 1st Pt. Parall. 54 Or els it may be changed in the value, as if a Floren, which was worth 4 li to be debased to 3 li. 1606 State Trials, Gt. case of Impositions (R.), That these staple commodities might not be debased. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 168 ¶4 Words which convey ideas of dignity..are in time debased. 1789 Trans. Soc. Encourag. Arts I. 16 Much of the Zaffre brought to England is mixed with matters that debase its quality. 1879 Froude Cæsar xiii. 177 Laws against debasing the coin. |