ab·ject [áb jèkt, ab jékt] adjective 1. miserable: allowing no hope of improvement or relief abject poverty 2. humble: extremely or excessively humble, e.g. in making an apology or request an abject apology 3. despicable: utterly despicable or contemptible abject cruelty [15th century. < Latin abjectus, past participle of abjicere "throw away, reject" < jacere "throw"] -ab·jec·tion [ab jéksh'n], noun -ab·ject·ly [áb jektlee], adverb -ab·ject·ness [áb jektn?ss, ab jéktn?ss], noun