basis Latin · revision 3674

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Cicero|origins=grc βάσις}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈba.sɪs], [ˈba.siːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈbaː.s̬is], [ˈbaː.s̬is]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''basis''' ''f'' (genitive basis or baseōs or basios); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|βάσις|tr=básis|t=stepping, step, base]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Saalfeld 1874) from [[m|grc|βαίνω|tr=baínō|t=to go, step]], from [[ine-pro|*gʷem-|t=to go, come]].^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found in Cicero (81–43 BC), who writes of a statue standing on a very high pedestal and of the base of trophies.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the lowest part of a structure, a pedestal or foundation, as Cicero's base of a villa, and the base of a column in Vitruvius.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In geometry it was the base of a triangle, as Cicero's triangle formed by flying cranes, or the chord of an arc.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Celsus used it in medicine for the base or attachment of an organ or tumour, and Vitruvius in astronomy for the lower part of a constellation.^(OLD 2012) Seneca's proverb “to measure someone with his pedestal” meant to overrate them.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Georges 1913) English ''base'' came from it through Old French about 1300, and ''basis'' was borrowed in the 1570s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of pedestals and of a triangle.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of the base of a column.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of the base of the brain.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''base'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570s – English ''basis'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|pedestal]], base, foundation.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The base of a column.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(medicine)'' The base, point of attachment.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(astronomy)'' The lower part (of a constellation).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(geometry)'' The base (of a triangle); a [[m|en|chord]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A foundation, [[m|en|basis]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[basella]]

+ * [[basicula]]

+ * [[basilāris]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|base]]

+ * [[en|basis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}