Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BA'SI-FY-ING, ppr.

Converting into a salifiable base.

BA-SI-GYN'I-UM, n.

The pedicel on which the ovary of certain flowers is situated.

BAS'IL, n. [s as z.]

The slope or angle of a tool or instrument, as of a chisel or plane; usually of 12 degrees, but for hard wood, 18 degrees. – Encyc.

BAS'IL, n.¹ [s as z. Fr. basilic; It. basilico.]

A plant of the genus Ocymum, of which there are many species, all natives of warm climates. They are fragrant aromatic plants, and one species, the sweet basil, is much used in cookery, especially in France.

BAS'IL, n.² [Orient. בזו to strip.]

The skin of a sheep tanned; written also basan.

BAS'IL, v.t.

To grind or form the edge of a tool to an angle. – Moxon.

BAS'IL-AR, or BAS'IL-A-RY, a. [s as z. See Basilic.]

Chief; an anatomical term applied to several bones, and to an artery of the brain. – Coxe.

BAS-IL'I-AN-MONKS,

monks of the order of St. Basil, who founded the order in Pontus. The order still exists, but has less power and celebrity than formerly. – Encyc.

BAS'IL-IC, or BA-SIL'IC-AL, a. [s as z.]

1. In the manner of a public edifice or cathedral. – Forsyth.
2. Belonging to the middle vein of the arm.
3. Noting a particular nut, the walnut, Basilica nux.

BAS'IL-IC, n. [s as z. Gr. βασιλικη; L. basilica; Gr. βασιλευς, a king.]

Anciently, a public hall or court of judicature, where princes and magistrates sat to administer justice. It was a large hall, with aisles, porticos, tribunes, and tribunals. The bankers also had a part allotted for their residence. These edifices, at first, were the palaces of princes, afterwards courts of justice, and finally converted into churches. Hence basilic now signifies a church, chapel, cathedral, or royal palace. – Encyc. Sp. and It. Dict.

BAS'IL-IC, n. [See Basil.]

The middle vein of the arm, or the interior branch of the axillary vein, so called by way of eminence. – Encyc. Quincy.

BA-SIL'I-CON, n. [s as z. Gr. βασιλικος, royal.]

An ointment. This name is given to several compositions in ancient medical writers. At present it is confined to three officinal ointments, distinguished into black, yellow and green basilicon. – Encyc.

BAS'I-LISK, n. [s as z. Gr. βασιλικος; L. basiliscus, from βασιλευς, king; so named from some prominences on the head, resembling a crown. – Morin's Dict.]

1. A fabulous serpent, called a cockatrice, and said to be produced from a cock's egg brooded by a serpent. The ancients alledged that its hissing would drive away all other serpents, and that its breath and even its look was fatal. Some writers suppose that a real serpent exists under this name.
2. In military affairs, a large piece of ordnance, so called from its supposed resemblance to the serpent of that name, or from its size. This cannon carried a ball of 200 pounds weight, but is not now used. Modern writers give this name to cannon of a smaller size, which the Dutch make 15 feet long, and the French 10, carrying a 48 pound ball. – Encyc.

BAS'IL-WEED, n.

Wild basil; a plant of the genus Clinopodium. – Muhlenberg.

BA'SIN, n. [ba'sn; Fr. bassin; Ir. baisin; Arm. baçzin; It. bacino, or bacile; Port. bacia. If the last radical is primarily a palatal letter, this is the German becken; D. bekken.]

1. A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses.
2. In hydraulics, any reservoir of water.
3. That which resembles a basin in containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a hollow place for liquids, or an inclosed part of water, forming a broad space within a strait or narrow entrance; a little bay; a depression in strata.
4. Among glass grinders, a concave piece of metal by which convex glasses are formed.
5. Among hatters, a large shell or case, usually of iron, placed over a furnace, in which the hat is molded into due shape.
6. In anatomy, a round cavity between the anterior ventricles of the brain.
7. The scale of a balance, when hollow and round.
8. In Jewish antiquities, the laver of the tabernacle.

BA'SIN-SHAP-ED, a.

Having the form of a basin.

BA'SIS, n. [plur. Bases. L. 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. – Hamilton. The basis of all excellence is truth. – Johnson.
4. Basis, in chimistry. See Base, No. 11.

BA'SIST, n.

A singer of base.

BASK, v.i. [The origin of this word is not obvious. Qu. Ir. basgaim, to rest or repose.]

To lie in warmth; to be exposed to genial heat; to be at ease and thriving under benign influences; as, to bask in the blaze of day; to bask in the sunshine of royal favor. The word includes the idea of some continuance of exposure.

BASK, v.t.

To warm by continued exposure to heat; to warm with genial heat. – Dryden.

BASK'ED, pp.

Exposed to warmth, or genial heat.

BASK'ET, n. [W. basged, or basgawd; Ir. bascaid; probably from weaving or texture; W. basg, a netting or plaiting of splinters.]

1. A domestic vessel made of twigs, rushes, splinters or other flexible things interwoven. The forms and sizes of baskets are very various, as well as the uses to which they are applied; as corn-baskets, clothes-baskets, fruit-baskets, and work-baskets.
2. The contents of a basket; as much as a basket will contain; as, a basket of medlars is two bushels. But in general, this quantity is indefinite. In military affairs, baskets of earth sometimes are used on the parapet of a trench, between which the soldiers fire. They serve for defence against small shot. – Encyc.

BASK'ET, v.t.

To put in a basket. – Cowper.

BASK'ET-FISH, n.

A species of sea-star, or star-fish, of the genus Asterias, and otherwise called the Magellanic star-fish. It has five rays issuing from an angular body, and dividing into innumerable branches. These when extended form a circle of three feet diameter. [See Asterias.] – Encyc.

BASK'ET-HILT, n. [See Hilt.]

A hilt whieh covers the hand, and defends it from injury, as of a sword. – Hudibras.