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a·base

(ə-bās)

tr.v. a·based, a·bas·ing, a·bas·es

To lower in rank, prestige, or esteem. See Synonyms at debase.

[Middle English abassen, from Old French abaissier : Latin ad-, ad- + Vulgar Latin *bassiāre, to lower (from *bassus, low, perhaps of Oscan origin; akin to Bassus, Bassius, Roman cognomens borne by men of Campanian origin and perhaps originally referring to squat stature).]

a·basement n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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