baseness (1), basenesse

[Eng. base low, and suffix -ne .) The quality of being base or low, in place or in any other respect. Specially L Of lowne in place: 1. The state or quality of being low in social standing. (a) Without imputation on the legitimacy of the birth: Humble rank. "So seldome seene that one in basene e set Doth noble courage shew with curteous manners met." Spenser: F. Q., VL. iii. 1. (b) With such imputation: Illegitimacy of birth, bastardy. "Why brand they us With base? with basene ! bastardy? base? base?" Shakesp.: King Lear, 1. 2. "Of crooked basene an indignant scorn." Thomson: Liberty, pt. V. III. Of debasement in metals: Absence of value; comparative worthle ne in a metal. "We alleged the fraudulent obtaining his patent, the basene of his metal, and the prodigious sum to be coined." -Swift. IMG:content-1093.png:[blocks in formation] bạ-sel-la-çe-se ( Lat . ), bạ-sel-lads ( Eng . ), s. pl . [BASELLA.] An order of perigynous exogens, placed by Lindley in his Ficoidal Alliance. It consists of plants like Ficoids, but with distinct sepals, no petals, the fruit enclosed in a membranous or succulent calyx, a single solitary carpel, and an erect seed. (Lindley.) All or nearly all tropical. In 1847 Lindley estimated the known species at twelve. * băsh (1), v.1 . [Shortened from abash (q.v.).]