abase

 
Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪs/

verb

[with object] (usually abase oneself)
  • behave in a way that belittles or degrades (someone): I watched my colleagues abasing themselves before the board of trustees

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French abaissier, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + baissier 'to lower', based on late Latin bassus 'short of stature'. The spelling has been influenced by base2