base
- base
\ \ There are two distinct words base in English. Base meaning ‘lower part, foundation’ [14] came either via Old French base or was a direct anglicization of Latin basis (acquired by English in its unaltered form at around the same time). The Latin word in its turn came from Greek básis, which meant originally ‘step’ and came ultimately from the Indo-European base *gwm-, from which English gets come; the semantic progression involved was ‘going, stepping’ to ‘that on which one walks or stands’ to ‘pedestal’. The derivative basement [18] is Italian in origin (Italian basamento means ‘base of a column’), but probably reached English via early modern Dutch basement ‘foundation’. Base meaning ‘low’ [14] comes via Old French bas from medieval Latin bassus ‘short, low’. The ultimate antecedents of this are uncertain, although some have suggested a connection with básson, the comparative form of Greek bathús ‘deep’. The adjective bass is historically the same word as base, but since the 16th century has been distinguished from it by spelling.
\ \ Cf.⇒ BASIS; BASS
Word origins - 2ed.
J. Ayto.
2005.
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Look at other dictionaries:
base — base … Dictionnaire des rimes
basé — basé … Dictionnaire des rimes
base — [ baz ] n. f. • XIIe; lat. basis, mot gr. « marche, point d appui » I ♦ A ♦ 1 ♦ Partie inférieure d un corps sur laquelle il porte, il repose. ⇒ appui (point d appui), assiette, assise, 1. dessous, fond, fondement, pied. La base de l édifice… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Base D'or — En mathématiques, le nombre d or, à savoir peut être utilisé comme une base de numération. Ce système est connu sous le nom base d or, ou accessoirement, phinaire (car le symbole pour le nombre d or est la lettre grecque « phi »). Tout… … Wikipédia en Français
base — n Base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork are comparable when meaning something on which another thing is reared or built or by which it is supported or fixed in place. Base may be applied to the lowest part or bottom of something without… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
base — base·ball; base; base·less; base·lin·er; base·ly; base·man; base·ment; base·ness; de·base; de·base·ment; di·a·base; em·base; gnatho·base; gyno·base; im·base; iso·base; phal·lo·base; rheo·base; rim·base; scle·ro·base; sub·base; sur·base;… … English syllables
base — base1 [bās] n. [ME < OFr bas < L basis,BASIS] 1. the thing or part on which something rests; lowest part or bottom; foundation 2. the fundamental or main part, as of a plan, organization, system, theory, etc. 3. the principal or essential… … English World dictionary
Base — (b[=a]s), a. [OE. bass, F. bas, low, fr. LL. bassus thick, fat, short, humble; cf. L. Bassus, a proper name, and W. bas shallow. Cf. {Bass} a part in music.] 1. Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs. [Archaic]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Base — or BASE may refer to:A base is a mixture of urine n waste so do not eat it* Base meaning bottom, the lowest part of an object* can mean negative, unfavorable or undesirable in nature. Bad; vile; malicious; evil.In mathematics: *Base (mathematics) … Wikipedia
base — 1. a base de. Locución preposicional que, seguida de un sustantivo, expresa que lo denotado por este es el fundamento o componente principal: «Los [tallarines] verdes [...] están hechos a base de albahaca» (Cisneros Mestizaje [Perú 1995]).… … Diccionario panhispánico de dudas
base — (Del lat. basis, y este del gr. βάσις). 1. f. Fundamento o apoyo principal de algo. 2. Conjunto de personas representadas por un mandatario, delegado o portavoz suyo. U. m. en pl.) 3. Lugar donde se concentra personal y equipo, para, partiendo de … Diccionario de la lengua española
