A lowering, humbling, or diminishing; a state of being brought down or reduced in status, dignity, or power.
From Old French 'abaisser' (to lower), related to 'a-' (to) plus 'bas' (low). The word entered English through French legal and feudal vocabulary describing the humiliation or subjugation of individuals or groups.
Medieval feudal documents used 'abaisance' to describe what happened when a lord defeated an enemy—not just winning, but specifically humiliating them and reducing their status, which was just as important as military victory in medieval politics.
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