-basil-

n. [ Cf. F. basile and E. Bezel. ] The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground. Grier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. basilic, fr. L. basilicus royal, Gr. basiliko`s fr. basiley`s king. ] (Bot.) The name given to several aromatic herbs of the Mint family, but chiefly to the common or sweet basil (Ocymum basilicum), and the bush basil, or lesser basil (Ocymum minimum), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to several kinds of mountain mint (Pycnanthemum). [ 1913 Webster ]

Basil thyme, a name given to the fragrant herbs Calamintha Acinos and Calamintha Nepeta. --
Wild basil, a plant (Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint family. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Corrupt. from E. basan, F. basane, LL. basanium, bazana, fr. Ar. bithāna, prop., lining. ] The skin of a sheep tanned with bark. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ F. basilaire, fr. L. basis. See Base, n. ] 1. Relating to, or situated at, the base. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lower; inferior; applied to impulses or springs of action. [ R. ] “Basilar instincts.” H. W. Beecher. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a ruler of the eastern Roman Empire. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. basilique. ] Basilica. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A digest of the laws of Justinian, translated from the original Latin into Greek, by order of Basil I., in the ninth century. P. Cyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Basilicas sometimes Basilicæ [ L. basilica, Gr. basilikh` (sc. o'iki`a or stoa` fr. basiliko`s royal, fr. basiley`s king. ] 1. Originally, the palace of a king; but afterward, an apartment provided in the houses of persons of importance, where assemblies were held for dispensing justice; and hence, any large hall used for this purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) (a) A building used by the Romans as a place of public meeting, with court rooms, etc., attached. (b) A church building of the earlier centuries of Christianity, the plan of which was taken from the basilica of the Romans. The name is still applied to some churches by way of honorary distinction. [ 1913 Webster ]