Definition of "base"

The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar.

1709, J[ohn] Dryden, J[ohn] Oldham, “(please specify the page)”, in Mac Flecknoe: A Poem. […] With Spencer’s Ghost: Being a Satyr Concerning Poetry. […], London: […] H[enry] Hills, […]

The base (skirt), as opposed to the practical skirt of the tonlet armour, is an affectation in imitation of the civilian fabric garment of the period and may well have been inspired by a similar feature on Maximilian's gift armour.

1977, Armours of Henry VIII

Both knee-length bases are made from black velvet [...] There was a second type of metal skirt that could be worn with armour: the tonlet. [...] Unlike the base, however, the tonlet did not have a textile counterpart. [...]

2007, AHRC Research Centre for Textile Conservation and Textile Studies. Conference, Textiles and Text: Re-establishing the Links Between Archival and Object-based Research : Postprints, pages 47–49

bakers in their linen bases

1613, John Marston, The Insatiate Countess

Use the globe he inhabits as a base wherewith to measure the magnitude and distance of the sun and planets.

1834, Mary Somerville, On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences

TYLER LENNON(played by Louis Healy): Ten grand a week we were clearing: base, white, meth, weed, anything. I can get you anything to get you high.

2019 January 20, Ann Cleeves, Paul Matthew Thompson, 1:26:51 from the start, in Lawrence Gough, director, Vera(Cuckoo) (9), episode 2 (TV series), spoken by Tyler Lennon (Louis Healy)

Firstly, I continue to base most species treatments on personally collected material, rather than on herbarium plants.

1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, page vii

Apart from time taken out during radio- and chemotherapy, Maurs continued to participate in POW. She would base a flyer in a double balance and make the audience laugh with her clowning antics for two more shows.

2005, John T. Warren, Laura B. Lengel, Casting Gender: Women and Performance in Intercultural Context, page 73

You know he started to base at a hell of a pace / And now it's a disgrace, he's got the pipe in his face

1984, “8 Million Stories”, in Ego Trip, performed by Kurtis Blow ft. Run-DMC

The cedar stoops not to the base shrub's foot.

1594, William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece, line 664

I see thy glory like a shooting star / Fall to the base earth from the firmament.

c. 1595, William Shakespeare, Richard II, act 2, scene 4, lines 19–20

If thou livest in paine and sorrow, thy base courage is the cause of it, To die there wanteth but will.

1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […]

UUhat meanes the mightie Turkiſh EmperorTo talke with one ſo baſe as Tamburlaine?

c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, Act III, scene iii

Wherefore should I / Stand in the plague of custome, and permit / The curiosity of Nations, to deprive me? For that I am some twelve, or fourteen Moonshines / Lag of a Brother? Why Bastard? Wherefore base? / When my Dimensions are as well compact, My minde as generous, and my shape as true / As honest madams issue? Why brand they us / With Base? With basenes Bastardie? Base, Base?

c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii], page 285, column 2

a peasant and base swain

1623, Francis Bacon, De Augmentis Scientiarum

a cruel act of a base and a cowardish mind

1551, Ralph Robynson, transl., More's Utopia

base ingratitude

1634 October 9 (first performance), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Robinson, […], published 1637; reprinted as Comus: […] (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903,

“Mrs. Yule's chagrin and horror at what she called her son's base ingratitude knew no bounds ; at first it was even thought that she would never get over it. […]”

1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, in The Tragedy in Dartmoor Terrace‎

'Like this horrible film.''Horrible?' Lenina was genuinely astonished. 'But I thought it was lovely.''It was base,' he said indignantly, 'it was ignoble.'

1932, Aldous Huxley, Brave New World‎, London: Chatto & Windus

Why bastard? Wherefore base?

c. 1605–1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act 1, scene 2, line 6

base LatinThe spelling has been modernized.

1655, Thomas Fuller, edited by James Nichols, The Church History of Britain, […], new edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [James Nichols] for Thomas Tegg and Son, […], published 1837

to run the country base

1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene iii]

So ran they all, as they had bene at bace, / They being chased that did others chase.

1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie