base English · revision 3343

+ English has two words spelled ''base'': the noun “foundation, bottom”, from Greek through Latin, and the adjective “low, ignoble”, from Late Latin bassus.^(Cresswell 2021)^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /beɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|foundation}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=grc βαίνω}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The foundation is [[inh|enm|bas]], [[bor|fro|base|t=pedestal, foundation]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)^(AHD 2000) perhaps confused with the Old French adjective bas “low”,^(Barnhart 1988) and directly [[bor|la|basis|t=foundation]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) from [[grc|βάσις|tr=básis|t=a step; that on which one stands, a pedestal]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from [[m|grc|βαίνω|tr=baínō|t=I go, step]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) from [[ine-pro|*gʷem-|alt=*gwa-|t=to go, come]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is a doublet of [[basis]].^(Barnhart 1988) The verb and adjective are from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The foundation of a building, the pedestal of a statue, the bottom of something as its support: about 1300^(Etymonline) or before 1300.^(Barnhart 1988) The OED's first quotation is from about 1325.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative “fundamental principle, groundwork” is from about 1500.^(OED 1989) In alchemy a base was an alloy of base metals in the late 15th century,^(Etymonline) and the chemical compound that unites with an acid to form a salt is from 1810, from a sense introduced in French in 1754 by the chemist Guillaume-François Rouelle.^(Etymonline) In games, a safe spot is suggested from the mid-15th century, the starting point is from the 1690s, and the destination of a runner from 1812.^(Etymonline) The military base, “secure ground from which operations proceed”, is from 1860.^(Etymonline) The verb meant “to make a foundation for” in the 1580s,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) 1587 in Barnhart and Merriam-Webster,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and “to place an argument upon a foundation” by 1841.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – a foundation, pedestal.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1500 – a fundamental principle.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1587 – verb, to found.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1690s – a starting point in sport.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1810 – a chemical base.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1812 – a runner's destination.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1841 – to base an argument.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1860 – a military base.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The lowest part, on which something rests; a [[foundation]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A basic principle or underlying element; a [[basis]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A centre of operations, especially a military one.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(baseball)'' Any of the four corners of the infield.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(chemistry)'' A substance that reacts with an [[acid]] to form a [[salt]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' The number on which a system of numbers is built.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To use as a foundation or starting point: ''based on fact''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To station at a base.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Forming a base.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[basal]]

+ * [[basic]]

+ * [[baseline]]

+ * [[baseball]]

+ * [[basement]]

+ * [[database]]

+ * [[airbase]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|low, ignoble}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1390|origins=la-lat bassus}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[inh|enm|bas|t=low]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|bas|t=low, lowly, mean]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[la-med|bassus|t=low]], Late Latin bassus “thick, fat, stumpy”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) found in classical Latin only as a personal name.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) Its origin is uncertain:^(Klein 1966) Etymonline suggests it may be Oscan or Celtic, or related to Greek [[m|grc|βαθύς|tr=bathús|t=deep]].^(Etymonline) The same Latin word gave [[abase]], [[bass]] the low voice, and [[bassoon]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Low, of little height”: the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) about 1390.^(Barnhart 1988) The spelling bass is found as a separate formation before 1393, in Gower's ''Confessio Amantis''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Low on the social scale” is from the late 15th century, and “low on the moral scale” by the 1530s.^(Etymonline) “Befitting an inferior person, unworthy” is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) Base metals, worthless as opposed to noble or precious metals, are from about 1600.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1390 – low, of little height.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 15th century – of low social rank.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530s – morally low.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – unworthy.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – ''base metals''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Without moral principle; [[contemptible]] or mean-spirited.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Inferior in quality or value: ''base metals''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Of low birth or rank.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Low, short.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[basely]]

+ * [[baseness]]

+ * [[abase]]

+ * [[debase]]

+ * [[base-born]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[basis]]

+ * [[bass]]

+ * [[bassoon]]

+ * [[acrobat]]

+ * [[basso]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A third ''base'', in ''prisoners' base'', a chasing game, is probably an alteration of ''bars'', and the game is from about 1440.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}