basics
UK[ˈbeɪsɪks]US[ˈbeɪsɪks]
n
the most important and necessary facts, skills, or ideas from which other things develop
n
the simplest and most important aspects of something that you must learn first
Morpheme Breakdown
basic
s
basic
foundation, pedestal
s
Etymology
the word 'basics' is the plural form of 'basic', which originates from the english word 'base'. 'base' entered english from old french 'bas', which in turn derived from latin 'basis', meaning "foundation, pedestal, base". this latin term was borrowed from ancient greek 'βάσις' (basis), signifying "a stepping, a step, that on which one stands". the core semantic journey is from the concrete idea of a physical foundation or support to the abstract concept of fundamental principles or essential elements. the addition of the plural suffix '-s' transforms the adjective 'basic' into a noun, collectively referring to these foundational facts or skills.
Analysis
Structure: basic + s
basic (from english 'base', from latin 'basis', meaning "foundation, pedestal") + s (from old english, a plural suffix)
Examples
this book covers the basics of computer programming.
before we discuss advanced techniques, let's review the basics.
she went back to basics and focused on improving her fundamental skills.