βάσις

basis

stepping, step

Appears 10 times across Aristotle's works.

Frequency by work

Click a work to list every occurrence by Bekker number — each links into the reader.

Metaphysics 2
Open Metaphysics ›
Book Θ 1
Chapter 9 1051a4–33

1051a28
Book Ν 1
Chapter 1 1087a29–1088b13

1087b36
Prior Analytics 1
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Book I 1
Chapter 24 41b6–35

41b15
On the Heavens 1
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Book II 1
Chapter 4 286b10–287b21

287b9
Generation of Animals 1
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Book III 1
Chapter 1 749a10–752a8

750a4
History of Animals 1
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Book IX 1
Chapter 40 623b5–627b22

624a8
Meteorology 1
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Book II 1
Chapter 5 361b14–363a20

362b2
Parts of Animals 1
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Book IV 1
Chapter 10 685b29–690b10

690a15
Physiognomonics 1
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Chapter 5 809a26–810a13

809b30
Politics 1
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Book II 1
Chapter 5 1262b37–1264b25

1263b35

Dictionary (LSJ)

βάσις [ᾰ], εως, ἡ, (βαίνω) A. stepping, step, and collectively, steps, A. Eu. 36, S. Aj. 8, etc.: metaph., ἡσύχῳ φρενῶν βάσει A. Ch. 452 (lyr.); οὐκ ἔχων β. power to step, S. Ph. 691 (lyr.); τροχῶν βάσεις the rolling of the wheels, the rolling wheels, Id. El. 718; ἀρβύλης β. the print of the sandal, E. El. 532; ποίμναις τήνδʼ ἐπεμπίπτει βάσιν S. Aj. 42. 2. measured stepor movement, β. χορείας Ar. Th. 968, cf. Pi. P. 1.2: hence, rhythmical or metrical movement, Pl. R. 399e, Lg. 670d: in Rhet., rhythmical close of a sentence, Hermog. Id. 1.6, al.; clause forming transition from πρότασις to ἀπόδοσις, Id. Inv. 1.5: and in Metric, metrical unit, monometer, Arist. Pol. 1263b35, Metaph. 1087b36, Heph. 11, Longin. Proll.Heph. 3, Mar. Vict.p.47.3 K., etc. 3. order, sequence, θέσις καὶ β. Epicur. Ep. 1p.10U. II. that with which one steps, a foot, Pl. Ti. 92a, Arist. GA 750a4; ποδῶν β. E. Hec. 837; θηλύπους β. their womenʼs feet, Id. IA 421; β. δίχηλος, of the ostrich, D.S. 3.28.3: abs., αἱ βάσεις Ph. 1.226, Act.Ap. 3.7; σφὶγξ εἶχε β. λέοντος Apollod. 3.5.8; leg, Id. 1.3.5; βάσεων ἀποκοπαί Diog.Oen. 39. III. that whereon one stands, base, pedestal, [κρατῆρος] Alex. 119; of statues, OGI 705.6, etc.; τρία ἔργα . . ἐπὶ μιᾶς β. Str. 14.1.14, cf. Luc. Philops. 19; λεβήτων Plb. 5.88.5; of an engine, Hero Bel. 88.1, al.; of a column, PLond. 3.755v6 (iv A. D.): Medic., τοῦ ἐγκεφάλου Herophil. ap. Placit. 4.5.4, cf. Plu. Per. 6; τραχήλου Id. Pyrrh. 34; κοῖλαι βλεφάρων ἰοτυπεῖς βάσιες AP 5.86 (Rufin.); αἱ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς β. Sor. 1.27, cf. Archig. ap. Aët. 16.101(91); of the heart, Gal. UP 6.13; ἐπανόρθωσις τὴν τοῦ κενουμένου βάσιν ἀναπληροῦσα Id. 1.474; foundation, basement, ῥίζα πάντων καὶ β. ἁ γᾶ ἐρήρεισται Ti.Locr. 97e; so, of the soil, πεδίων σπορίμα β. Hymn.Is. 162. 2. Geom., base of a solid or plane figure, Pl. Ti. 55b, Arist. APr. 41b15,al.; [κώνου] Democr. 155; πυραμίδος Speus. ap. Theol.Ar. 63. IV. position, fixedness, opp. φορά, etym. of βέβαιος, Pl. Cra. 437a. V. Astrol., = ὡροσκόπος, Vett.Val. 88.6, Paul.Al. T. 2, Cat.Cod.Astr. 8(4).132.

Key passages & sense analysis (Bonitz)

Index Aristotelicus. Hermann Bonitz's sense-by-sense analysis of βάσις — with the passages he singles out as decisive for each meaning — will appear here. That curated, interpretive selection is the layer LSJ and a raw concordance don't provide. Digitisation in progress; this entry is not yet available.

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