[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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., 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.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., vii. in Misc. 1736, VI. 85 (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.
