After the war, many families were reduced to a state of abjection.

abjection 是由动词 abject（使卑贱）加上名词后缀 -ion 构成的名词形式。abject 本身来自拉丁语 abiectus，意为"被抛弃的、卑贱的"。 abjection 指"极度贫困、悲惨或屈辱的状态"，常用来形容因战争、灾难等导致的生活困境，包含物质匮乏和精神绝望的双重含义。