Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BASE, a. [Fr. bas, low; W. bas; It. basso; Sp. baxo, low; W. basu, to fall, or lower. See Abase.]

1. Low in place. [Obs.] – Spenser.
2. Mean; vile; worthless; that is, low in value or estimation; used of things.
3. Of low station; of mean account; without rank, dignity or estimation among men; used of persons. The base shall behave proudly against the honorable. Is. iii.
4. Of mean spirit; disingenuous; illiberal; low; without dignity of sentiment; as, a base and abject multitude.
5. Of little comparative value; applied to metals, and perhaps to all metals, except gold and silver.
6. Deep; grave; applied to sounds; as, the base sounds of a viol. – Bacon.
7. Of illegitimate birth; born out of wedlock. – Shak.
8. Not held by honorable tenure. A base estate is an estate held by services not honorable, nor in capite, or by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant, a base tenant. So writers on the laws of England use the terms, a base fee, a base court. – Encyc.