early 15c., "embarrassment, dread, fear," from abase + -ment. Sense of "action of lowering in price" is mid-15c.; "action of lowering in rank" is 1560s; "condition of being abased" is from 1610s.
abalone
abandon
abandoned
abandonment
abase
abasement
abash
abate
abatement
abatis
abattoir