βάσις Ancient Greek · revision 15475

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=6th–5th century BC, Pindar|origins=ine-pro *gʷem-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /bá.sis/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈβa.sis/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈva.sis/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''βᾰ́σῐς''' (básis) ''f'' (genitive βᾰ́σεως); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|grk-pro|*gʷə́tis]], [[inh|ine-pro|*gʷémtis]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*gʷem-|t=to step, go]];^(Wiktionary) it matches [[sa|गति|tr=gáti|t=going]].^(Beekes 2010) By surface analysis it is [[m|grc|βαίνω|tr=baínō|t=to walk, step]] + [[m|grc|-σις|tr=-sis]].^(Wiktionary)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first recorded use is in Pindar's first ''Pythian'' ode, for the step of the dance.^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940) Aeschylus uses it for stepping.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In tragedy it is a step or footstep, the power to walk, the rolling of wheels, and the print of a sandal (Euripides).^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021) Plato uses it for rhythmical or metrical movement, and Plato and Aristotle for a metrical foot.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021) Sophocles, Euripides, Plato and the New Testament use it for the foot or leg.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ From what one stands on it came to mean a base: a fixed resting place (Plato), the pedestal of a statue or a cauldron, the base of siege engines (Polybius, Plutarch), and in the Septuagint's Exodus silver bases for pillars.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE) Geometers used it for the base of a figure, and Hermogenes for the rhythmical close of a sentence.^(Wiktionary)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|basis]].^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary) The medieval and modern form is [[el|βάση|tr=vási]].^(Kriaras)^(Πάπυρος)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Pindar uses it for a dance step.^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Euripides uses it for the print of a sandal.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses it for rhythm and a metrical foot.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 3rd–2nd century BC – The Septuagint uses it for silver bases.^(DGE)

+ * 2nd century BC – Polybius uses it for the base of siege engines.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * Modern Greek – ''βάση'' means base, basis.^(Πάπυρος)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Stepping, a [[m|en|step]]; footsteps.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # A measured step; rhythmical movement;^(LSJ 1940) ''(prosody)'' a metrical foot.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # The [[m|en|foot]], leg.^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A footprint.^(CGL 2021)

+ # A [[m|en|base]], [[m|en|pedestal]], foundation.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ # ''(geometry)'' The base of a figure.^(Wiktionary)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(rhetoric)'' The rhythmical close of a sentence.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἀμφίβασις|tr=amphíbasis]]

+ * [[ἀνάβασις|tr=anábasis]]

+ * [[ἀντίβασις|tr=antíbasis]]

+ * [[ἀπόβασις|tr=apóbasis]]

+ * [[διάβασις|tr=diábasis]]

+ * [[εἴσβασις|tr=eísbasis]]

+ * [[ἔκβασις|tr=ékbasis]]

+ * [[ἔμβασις|tr=émbasis]]

+ * [[ἐπίβασις|tr=epíbasis]]

+ * [[κατάβασις|tr=katábasis]]

+ * [[μετάβασις|tr=metábasis]]

+ * [[παράβασις|tr=parábasis]]

+ * [[πρόβασις|tr=próbasis]]

+ * [[πρόσβασις|tr=prósbasis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|basis]]

+ * [[en|basis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}