BA'SIS, noun plural bases. [Latin and Gr.; the same as base, which see.] 1. The foundation of any thing; that on which a thing stands or lies; the bottom or foot of the thing itself, or that on which it rests. See a full explanation under base. 2. The ground work or first principle; that which supports. 3. Foundation; support. The basis of public credit is good faith. The basis of all excellence is truth. 4. basis in chimistry. See Base. No. 12.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI