Main Entry: ³base

Function: adjective

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

Date: 14th century

1 archaic : of little height
2 obsolete : low in place or position
3 obsolete : bass
4 archaic : baseborn
5 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>.