Base

bās, n. that on which a thing rests: foot: bottom: foundation: support: the chief ingredient, as in dyeing and chemistry: the starting-point, in a race: the fixed goal acro which the ball is struck in hockey, the fixed stations at base-ball: the point from which the operations of a campaign are conducted: a measured line serving as a basis for trigonometrical calculations: the surface on which a plane or solid figure stands: ( chem. ) a term applied to a compound body, generally consisting of a metal united with oxygen; ( arch it. ) the foot or lower member of a pillar, on which the shaft rests: ( her. ) the lower portion of the shield—any figure placed on it is said to be 'in base:' a small portion of the base of a shield parted off by a horizontal line is sometimes called a base.— v.t. to found or place on a base:— pr.p. bās′ing; pa.p. based (bāst).— adjs. Bas′al , Bas′ilar , pertaining to or situated at the base, esp. of the skull; Base′le , without a base or foundation.— ns. Base′le ne ; Base′ment , the base or lowest story of a building.— adj. Bas′en-wide ( Spens. ), widely extended.— n. Base′-plate , the foundation plate of a piece of heavy machinery.— n.pl. Bas′es , a kind of embroidered mantle which hung down from the middle to about the knees or lower, worn by knights on horseback: ( Spens. ) armour for the legs.— ns. Base′-string , the string of a musical instrument that gives the lowest note; Base′-vīol (same as Ba -viol ).— adj. Bas′ic ( chem. ), belonging to or of the nature of a base.— v.t. Bas′ify ( chem. ), to convert into a salifiable base:— pr.p. bās′ifying; pa.p. bās′ifīed. [Fr.—L.—Gr. basis — ba- , in bainein , to go.]