Part 932

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Alloyed with inferior metal; debased; <as>as, <ex>base</ex> coin; <ex>base</ex> bullion.</as></def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; <as>as, a <ex>base</ex> fellow; <ex>base</ex> motives; <ex>base</ex> occupations.</as></def> "A cruel act of a <i>base</i> and a cowardish mind." <i>Robynson (More's Utopia)</i>. "<i>Base</i> ingratitude."

<i>Milton.</i>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>Not classical or correct.</def> "<i>Base</i> Latin."

<i>Fuller.</i>

<p><b>9.</b> <def>Deep or grave in sound; <as>as, the <ex>base</ex> tone of a violin</as>.</def> <altsp>[In this sense, commonly written <asp>bass.</asp>]</altsp>

<p><b>10.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>Not held by honorable service; <as>as, a <ex>base</ex> estate, one held by services not honorable; held by villenage. Such a tenure is called <ex>base</ex>, or low, and the tenant, a <ex>base</ex> tenant.</as></def>

<cs><col>Base fee</col>, <cd>formerly, an estate held at the will of the lord; now, a qualified fee. See note under <er>Fee</er>, <tt>n.</tt>, 4.</cd> -- <col>Base metal</col>. <cd>See under <er>Metal</er>.</cd></cs>

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

<h1>Base</h1> <Xpage=121>

<hw>Base</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>base</ets>, L. <ets>basis</ets>, fr. Gr. <ets><?/</ets> a stepping step, a base, pedestal, fr. <ets><?/</ets> to go, step, akin to E. <ets>come</ets>. Cf. <er>Basis</er>, and see <er>Come</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The bottom of anything, considered as its support, or that on which something rests for support; the foundation; <as>as, the <ex>base</ex> of a statue</as>.</def> "The <i>base</i> of mighty mountains."

<i>Prescott.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the essential principle; a groundwork.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>The lower part of a wall, pier, or column, when treated as a separate feature, usually in projection, or especially ornamented.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>The lower part of a complete architectural design, as of a monument; also, the lower part of any elaborate piece of furniture or decoration.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it is attached to its support.</def>

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<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>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.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Pharmacy)</fld> <def>The chief ingredient in a compound.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <fld>(Dyeing)</fld> <def>A substance used as a mordant.</def>

<i>Ure.</i>

<p><b>8.</b> <fld>(Fort.)</fld> <def>The exterior side of the polygon, or that imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two adjacent bastions.</def>

<p><b>9.</b> <fld>(Geom.)</fld> <def>The line or surface constituting that part of a figure on which it is supposed to stand.</def>

<p><b>10.</b> <fld>(Math.)</fld> <def>The number from which a mathematical table is constructed; <as>as, the <ex>base</ex> of a system of logarithms</as>.</def>

<p><b>11.</b> <ety>[See <er>Base</er> low.]</ety> <def>A low, or deep, sound. <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> The lowest part; the deepest male voice. <sd>(b)</sd> One who sings, or the instrument which plays, base.</def> <altsp>[Now commonly written <asp>bass</asp>.]</altsp>

<blockquote>The trebles squeak for fear, the <b>bases</b> roar. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>12.</b> <fld>(Mil.)</fld> <def>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.</def>

<p><b>13.</b> <fld>(Mil.)</fld> <def>The smallest kind of cannon.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>14.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more central organ.</def>