Where does “Base” come from?
Base comes from Latin basis, meaning "foundation" or "step," which underwent sound changes as it passed through Old French and Middle English before arriving in modern English.
Base (English): Something from which other things extend; a foundation
Definitions
- Something from which other things extend; a foundation
Ancestry of “Base”, step by step
Base traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English base
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | base | A foundation or base; the bottom of a building;... |
| 2 | Old French | base | base bottom part; supporting part |
| 3 | Latin | basis | A pedestal, foot, base; basis, foundation; The... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | βάσις | step; rhythm; foot |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | gʷə́tis | step |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷémtis | step, act of walking |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷem- | to step |