base

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The bottom part of something that it stands or rests on.

   The lamp has a heavy metal base so it won't tip over.

2. 2
   noun

   A place from which an army, company, or activity is run.

   The soldiers returned to their base after the mission.

3. 3
   adj

   Lacking honor or morals; shameful.

   He acted out of base and selfish motives.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

English has two different words spelled base. The old-fashioned adjective meaning “low” or “ignoble” comes from Latin bassus, meaning “short.” The other base came through Latin from Greek basis, meaning “step” or “pedestal,” and first meant “the pedestal of a statue” in English.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷem- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *gʷémtis Proto-Hellenic *gʷə́tis Ancient Greek βᾰ́σῐς (bắsĭs)bor. Latin basis Old French basebor. Middle English base English base From Middle English base, bas, baas, from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). Doublet of basis and bass.

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
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