Where does “baseline” come from?
Baseline comes from English base and English line, with base deriving from Latin basis meaning "foundation" or "support."
baseline (English): A line that is a base for measurement or for...
Definitions
- A line that is a base for measurement or for...
Ancestry of “baseline”, step by step
baseline traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Base
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Base | Something from which other things extend; a foundation |
| 2 | Middle English | base | A foundation or base; the bottom of a building;... |
| 3 | Old French | base | base bottom part; supporting part |
| 4 | Latin | basis | A pedestal, foot, base; basis, foundation; The... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | βάσις | step; rhythm; foot |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | gʷə́tis | step |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷémtis | step, act of walking |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷem- | to step |
via English line
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | line | A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight |
| 2 | Middle English | line | rope, cord; line, rule, ruler, measure; rule,... |
| 3 | Old English | līne | line, rope, cord; line, cable, rope, hawser,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *līnā | line, chord, rope, string |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | līnǭ | that which is made of flax; line, chord, rope,... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | līną | flax |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | līno- | flax |