Sentence:  His large water-dog was acquainted with the fact, and upon the approach of his master, betrayed his sense of inferiority by a sanctity of deportment, a <WSD>debasement</WSD> of the ears, and a dropping of the lower jaw not altogether unworthy of a dog. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The act of debasing or the state of being debased; a lowering or degradation, especially in character or quality.