basest

Adjective

base (comparative baser or more base, superlative basest or most base)

1. (obsolete) Low in height; short.
   • The cedar stoops not to the base shrub's foot.1594, William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece, line 664

   Synonyms:

   little, petite, short

2. Low in place or position.
   • I see thy glory like a shooting star / Fall to the base earth from the firmament.c. 1595, William Shakespeare, Richard II, act 2, scene 4, lines 19–20

   Synonyms:

   low-lying, lowland

3. (obsolete) Of low value or degree.
   • If thou livest in paine and sorrow, thy base courage is the cause of it, To die there wanteth but will.1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   contemptible, floccinaucinihilipilificatious, foolish, for the birds, futile, frivolous, idle, ignorable, immaterial, inconsequential

4. (archaic) Of low social standing or rank; vulgar, common.
   • UUhat meanes the mightie Turkiſh Emperor
     To talke with one ſo baſe as Tamburlaine?c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC...

   Synonyms:

   common, low-born, lowly, plebeian, vulgar

5. Morally reprehensible, immoral; cowardly.
   • a cruel act of a base and a cowardish mind1551, Ralph Robynson, transl., More's Utopia

   Synonyms:

   abject, filthy, beggarly, blameworthy, carrion, cheap, choical, contemptible, cringing, damnable

6. (archaic) Inferior; unworthy, of poor quality.
   • 'Like this horrible film.'
     'Horrible?' Lenina was genuinely astonished. 'But I thought it was lovely.'
     'It was base,' he said indignantly, 'it was ignoble.'1932, Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, London: Chatto & Windus

   Synonyms:

   low-quality

See all 52 meanings of base