*bas*

a. 1. Lowered; humbled. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Her.) [ F. abaissé. ] Borne lower than usual, as a fess; also, having the ends of the wings turned downward towards the point of the shield. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Abjectly; downcastly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. abaissement. ] The act of abasing, humbling, or bringing low; the state of being abased or humbled; humiliation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. He who, or that which, abases. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Abashed p. pr. & vb. n. Abashing. ] [ OE. abaissen, abaisshen, abashen, OF. esbahir, F. ébahir, to astonish, fr. L. ex + the interjection bah, expressing astonishment. In OE. somewhat confused with abase. Cf. Finish. ] To destroy the self-possession of; to confuse or confound, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to put to shame; to disconcert; to discomfit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abashed, the devil stood,
And felt how awful goodness is. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was a man whom no check could abash. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To confuse; confound; disconcert; shame. -- To Abash, Confuse, Confound. Abash is a stronger word than confuse, but not so strong as confound. We are abashed when struck either with sudden shame or with a humbling sense of inferiority; as, Peter was abashed by the look of his Master. So a modest youth is abashed in the presence of those who are greatly his superiors. We are confused when, from some unexpected or startling occurrence, we lose clearness of thought and self-possession. Thus, a witness is often confused by a severe cross-examination; a timid person is apt to be confused in entering a room full of strangers. We are confounded when our minds are overwhelmed, as it were, by something wholly unexpected, amazing, dreadful, etc., so that we have nothing to say. Thus, a criminal is usually confounded at the discovery of his guilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Satan stood
Awhile as mute, confounded what to say. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an abashed manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. ébahissement. ] The state of being abashed; confusion from shame. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL.; Gr. 'a- not + ba`sis a step. ] (Med.) Inability to coordinate muscular actions properly in walking. AS [ archaic ] -- A*ba"sic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{ ‖‖ } n. [ Ar. & Per. abāsī, belonging to Abas (a king of Persia). ] A silver coin of Persia, worth about twenty cents. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. alabaster, Gr. 'ala`bastros, said to be derived fr. Alabastron, the name of a town in Egypt, near which it was common: cf. OF. alabastre, F. albâtre. ] 1. (Min.) (a) A compact variety or sulphate of lime, or gypsum, of fine texture, and usually white and translucent, but sometimes yellow, red, or gray. It is carved into vases, mantel ornaments, etc. (b) A hard, compact variety of carbonate of lime, somewhat translucent, or of banded shades of color; stalagmite. The name is used in this sense by Pliny. It is sometimes distinguished as oriental alabaster. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A box or vessel for holding odoriferous ointments, etc.; -- so called from the stone of which it was originally made. Fosbroke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Alabastrine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of, pertaining to, or like, alabaster; as alabastrine limbs. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Alabastra [ NL. ] (Bot.) A flower bud. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to an ambassador. H. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state, office, or functions of an ambassador. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A female ambassador; also, the wife of an ambassador. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Embassage. [ Obs. or R. ] Luke xiv. 32. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Embassy, the usual spelling. Helps. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Gr. 'anaba`s, p. p. of bai`nein to advance. ] (Zool.) A genus of fishes, remarkable for their power of living long out of water, and of making their way on land for considerable distances, and for climbing trees; the climbing fishes. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Gr. 'ana`basis, fr. 'anabai`nein to go up; 'ana` up + bai`nein to go. ] 1. A journey or expedition up from the coast, like that of the younger Cyrus into Central Asia, described by Xenophon in his work called “The Anabasis.” [ 1913 Webster ]

The anabasis of Napoleon. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) The first period, or increase, of a disease; augmentation. [ Obs. ] AS [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med) A plant genus of the goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae. [ AS ]

n. 1. a tall feather palm of northern Brazil (Orbignya barbosiana) with hard-shelled nuts yielding a valuable oil (
babassu oil) and a kind of vegetable ivory.
Syn. -- babassu palm, coco de macao, Orbignya phalerata, Orbignya spesiosa, Orbignya martiana. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a West Indian shrub or small tree (Jacquinia keyensis) having leathery saponaceous leaves and extremely hard wood.
Syn. -- joewood. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. barbastelle. ] (Zool.) A European bat (Barbastellus communis), with hairy lips. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to, or forming, the base. [ 1913 Webster ]

Basal cleavage. See under Cleavage. --
Basal plane (Crystallog.), a plane parallel to the lateral or horizontal axis. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Having the nerves radiating from the base; -- said of leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. basaltes (an African word), a dark and hard species of marble found in Ethiopia: cf. F. basalte. ] 1. (Geol.) A rock of igneous origin, consisting of augite and triclinic feldspar, with grains of magnetic or titanic iron, and also bottle-green particles of olivine frequently disseminated. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is usually of a greenish black color, or of some dull brown shade, or black. It constitutes immense beds in some regions, and also occurs in veins or dikes cutting through other rocks. It has often a prismatic structure as at the Giant's Causeway, in Ireland, where the columns are as regular as if the work of art. It is a very tough and heavy rock, and is one of the best materials for macadamizing roads. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An imitation, in pottery, of natural basalt; a kind of black porcelain. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. basaltique. ] Pertaining to basalt; formed of, or containing, basalt; as basaltic lava. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Basalt + -form. ] In the form of basalt; columnar. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Basalt + -oid. ] Formed like basalt; basaltiform. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Basil, a sheepskin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. basanites lapis, Gr. ba`sanos the touchstone: cf. F. basanite. ] (Min.) Lydian stone, or black jasper, a variety of siliceous or flinty slate, of a grayish or bluish black color. It is employed to test the purity of gold, the amount of alloy being indicated by the color left on the stone when rubbed by the metal. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., fr. bas stocking + bleu blue. ] A bluestocking; a literary woman. [ Somewhat derisive ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. bacinet, basnet, OF. bassinet, bacinet, F. bassinet, dim. of OF. bacin, F. bassin, a helmet in the form of a basin. ] A light helmet, at first open, but later made with a visor. [ Written also basinet, bassinet, basnet. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., a seesaw. ] In mechanics, an apparatus on the principle of the seesaw, in which one end rises as the other falls. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bascule bridge, a counterpoise or balanced drawbridge, which is opened by sinking the counterpoise and thus lifting the footway into the air. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. ba`sis a stepping, step, a base, pedestal, fr. bai`nein to go, step, akin to E. come. Cf. Basis, and see Come. ] 1. The bottom of anything, considered as its support, or that on which something rests for support; the foundation; as, the base of a statue. “The base of mighty mountains.” Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the essential principle; a groundwork. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) (a) The lower part of a wall, pier, or column, when treated as a separate feature, usually in projection, or especially ornamented. (b) The lower part of a complete architectural design, as of a monument; also, the lower part of any elaborate piece of furniture or decoration. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it is attached to its support. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Chem.) The positive, or non-acid component of a salt; a substance which, combined with an acid, neutralizes the latter and forms a salt; -- applied also to the hydroxides of the positive elements or radicals, and to certain organic bodies resembling them in their property of forming salts with acids. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Pharmacy) The chief ingredient in a compound. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Dyeing) A substance used as a mordant. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Fort.) The exterior side of the polygon, or that imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two adjacent bastions. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Geom.) The line or surface constituting that part of a figure on which it is supposed to stand. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Math.) The number from which a mathematical table is constructed; as, the base of a system of logarithms. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. [ See Base low. ] A low, or deep, sound. (Mus.) (a) The lowest part; the deepest male voice. (b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, base. [ Now commonly written bass. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. (Mil.) A place or tract of country, protected by fortifications, or by natural advantages, from which the operations of an army proceed, forward movements are made, supplies are furnished, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. (Mil.) The smallest kind of cannon. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

14. (Zool.) That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more central organ. [ 1913 Webster ]

15. (Crystallog.) The basal plane of a crystal. [ 1913 Webster ]

16. (Geol.) The ground mass of a rock, especially if not distinctly crystalline. [ 1913 Webster ]

17. (Her.) The lower part of the field. See Escutcheon. [ 1913 Webster ]

18. The housing of a horse. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

19. pl. A kind of skirt (often of velvet or brocade, but sometimes of mailed armor) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or lower. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

20. The lower part of a robe or petticoat. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

21. An apron. [ Obs. ] “Bakers in their linen bases.” Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

22. The point or line from which a start is made; a starting place or a goal in various games. [ 1913 Webster ]

To their appointed base they went. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

23. (Surv.) A line in a survey which, being accurately determined in length and position, serves as the origin from which to compute the distances and positions of any points or objects connected with it by a system of triangles. Lyman. [ 1913 Webster ]

24. A rustic play; -- called also prisoner's base, prison base, or bars. “To run the country base.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

25. (Baseball) Any one of the four bounds which mark the circuit of the infield. [ 1913 Webster ]

Altern base. See under Altern. --
Attic base. (Arch.) See under Attic. --
Base course. (Arch.) (a) The first or lower course of a foundation wall, made of large stones or a mass of concrete; -- called also foundation course. (b) The architectural member forming the transition between the basement and the wall above. --
Base hit (Baseball), a hit, by which the batsman, without any error on the part of his opponents, is able to reach the first base without being put out. --
Base line. (a) A main line taken as a base, as in surveying or in military operations. (b) A line traced round a cannon at the rear of the vent. --
Base plate, the foundation plate of heavy machinery, as of the steam engine; the bed plate. --
Base ring (Ordnance), a projecting band of metal around the breech, connected with the body of the gun by a concave molding. H. L. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. bass, F. bas, low, fr. LL. bassus thick, fat, short, humble; cf. L. Bassus, a proper name, and W. bas shallow. Cf. Bass a part in music. ] 1. Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs. [ Archaic ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Low in place or position. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean. [ Archaic ] “A peasant and base swain.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Illegitimate by birth; bastard. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Why bastard? wherefore base? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and silver, the precious metals. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Alloyed with inferior metal; debased; as, base coin; base bullion. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base fellow; base motives; base occupations. “A cruel act of a base and a cowardish mind.” Robynson (More's Utopia). “Base ingratitude.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Not classical or correct. “Base Latin.” Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Deep or grave in sound; as, the base tone of a violin. [ In this sense, commonly written bass. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Law) Not held by honorable service; as, a base estate, one held by services not honorable; held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant, a base tenant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Base fee, formerly, an estate held at the will of the lord; now, a qualified fee. See note under Fee, n., 4. --
Base metal. See under Metal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Dishonorable; worthless; ignoble; low-minded; infamous; sordid; degraded. -- Base, Vile, Mean. These words, as expressing moral qualities, are here arranged in the order of their strength, the strongest being placed first. Base marks a high degree of moral turpitude; vile and mean denote, in different degrees, the lack of what is valuable or worthy of esteem. What is base excites our abhorrence; what is vile provokes our disgust or indignation; what is mean awakens contempt. Base is opposed to high-minded; vile, to noble; mean, to liberal or generous. Ingratitude is base; sycophancy is vile; undue compliances are mean. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Based p. pr. & vb. n. Basing. ] [ From Base, n. ] To put on a base or basis; to lay the foundation of; to found, as an argument or conclusion; -- used with on or upon. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Base, a., and cf. Abase. ] 1. To abase; to let, or cast, down; to lower. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If any . . . based his pike. Sir T. North. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reduce the value of; to debase. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Metals which we can not base. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A game of ball, so called from the bases or bounds (four in number) which designate the circuit which each player must endeavor to make after striking the ball. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The ball used in this game. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Arch.) A board, or other woodwork, carried round the walls of a room and touching the floor, to form a base and protect the plastering; -- also called washboard (in England), mopboard, and scrubboard. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Born out of wedlock. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Born of low parentage. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Vile; mean. “Thy baseborn heart.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A furnace or stove in which the fuel is contained in a hopper or chamber, and is fed to the fire as the lower stratum is consumed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. basse-cour. See Base, a., and Court, n. ] 1. The secondary, inferior, or rear courtyard of a large house; the outer court of a castle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) An inferior court of law, not of record. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. 1. Having a base, or having as a base; supported; as, broad-based. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ See Base, n., 18-21. ] Wearing, or protected by, bases. [ Obs. ] “Based in lawny velvet.” E. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Named for Dr. Basedow, a German physician. ] (Med.) A disease characterized by enlargement of the thyroid gland, prominence of the eyeballs, and inordinate action of the heart; -- called also exophthalmic goiter. Flint. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. causing formation of an alkali. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ OF. baselarde, LL. basillardus. ] A short sword or dagger, worn in the fifteenth century. [ Written also baslard. ] Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a base; having no foundation or support. “The baseless fabric of this vision.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]