Main Entry:

³base

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English bas, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin bassus fat, short, low

Date:

14th century

1archaic : of little height2obsolete : low in place or position3obsolete : bass4archaic : baseborn5 a: resembling a villein : servile <a base tenant> b: held by villenage <base tenure>6 a: being of comparatively low value and having relatively inferior properties (as lack of resistance to corrosion) <a base metal such as iron> — compare noble b: containing a larger than usual proportion of base metals <base silver denarii>7 a: lacking or indicating the lack of higher qualities of mind or spirit : ignoble b: lacking higher values : degrading <a drab base way of life>

— base·ly adverb

— base·ness noun

synonyms base, low, vile mean deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values. base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness <base motives>. low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety <refused to listen to such low talk>. vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth <a vile remark>.