Chem. [f. Gr. βάς-ις base + -YL, Gr. ῦλη, hyle, wood, substance. (Webster has also bashyle.)] A metal or other electro-positive constituent of a compound; a body that unites with oxygen to form a base.
1863. Watts, Dict. Chem., Basyl, Graham’s name for the metal or other electropositive constituent of a salt.
a. 1866. G. Wilson, Inorg. Chem. (ed. 3), § 1130. A base, may be constructed of a metal and oxygen, and in such circumstances a metal is known as a basyle … Other substances than metals, however, may be basyles and form bases.
