Where does “base” come from?

base (Middle English) comes from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις, from Proto-Hellenic gʷə́tis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷémtis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷem- — to step.

base (Middle English): A foundation or base; the bottom of a building;...

Definitions

  1. A foundation or base; the bottom of a building;...

Ancestry of “base”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchbasebase bottom part; supporting part
2LatinbasisA pedestal, foot, base; basis, foundation; The...
3Ancient Greekβάσιςstep; rhythm; foot
4Proto-Hellenicgʷə́tisstep
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʷémtisstep, act of walking
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʷem-to step

Words derived from “base”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷem- →