Where does “base” come from?
base (French) comes from English based, from English Base, from Middle English base, from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις, from Proto-Hellenic gʷə́tis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷémtis — to step.
base (French): base; base, basis
Ancestry of “base”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | based | Founded on; having a basis; often used in... |
| 2 | English | Base | — |
| 3 | Middle English | base | A foundation or base; the bottom of a building;... |
| 4 | Old French | base | base |
| 5 | Latin | basis | A pedestal, foot, base; basis, foundation; The... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | βάσις | step; rhythm; foot |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | gʷə́tis | step |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷémtis | step, act of walking |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷem- | to step |
Words derived from “base”