baseness
(ˈbeɪsnɪs)
[f. base a. + -ness.]
† 1. Lowness or feebleness in sound; deepness in tone. Obs.; cf. bassness.
| 1609 Bible (Douay) Eccles. xii. 4 The baseness of the grinders voice. 1626 Bacon Sylva §184 The Baseness or Trebleness of Tones. |
2. Low birth or rank, lowly or mean estate, lowliness; a trait or characteristic of low rank (obs.).
| 1552 Huloet, Basenes of bloude or ignobilitie. 1563 Homilies ii. xxi. i. (1859) 554 As the Majesty of heavenly things may by the basenesse of earthly things be shadowed. 1602 Shakes. Ham. v. ii. 34, I once did hold it..A basenesse to write faire. 1615 T. Adams Christ's Star Wks. 1871 II. 7 God did ever so strangely qualify the baseness of Christ. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. lx, He mixing with his proper sphere, She finds the baseness of her lot. |
† 3. Illegitimacy of birth, bastardy. Obs.
| 1605 Shakes. Lear i. ii. 10 Why brand they vs With Base? With basenes, Bastardie? |
4. Moral turpitude, reprehensible cowardice or selfishness, contemptible meanness; an act or trait of this character.
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. ii. 21 You stand vpon your honor..thou vnconfinable baseness? 1639 Fuller Holy War v. xv. (1840) 269 Soldiers count it baseness to be thrifty of their own healths. 1767 Junius Lett. iii. 18, I acquit him of the baseness of selling Commissions. 1858 Gen. P. Thompson Audi Alt. I. lxxii. 240 Having no basenesses of his own to prosecute, and therefore under no temptation to pander to the basenesses of other people. |
5. Inferior or debased quality.
| 1577 Harrison England ii. vi. (1877) 159 As she seeth cause by the goodnesse or basenesse of the hops. 1581 W. Stafford Exam. Compl. i. (1876) 28 That basenesse of our English Coyne. a 1745 Swift (J.) We alledged..the baseness of his metal. 1851 Ruskin Stones Ven. I. i. 49 The world is so widely encumbered with forgeries and basenesses. |