basis

The word 'basis' entered English in the 16th century via Latin, which borrowed it directly from Greek basis, meaning 'a step, pedestal, or base'. The Greek root is derived from the verb bainein (to go, to step), with the original sense being 'that on which one steps'. This concrete, physical meaning evolved logically into the abstract concept of a foundational support or starting point for something. The semantic journey from a literal stepping stone to the figurative groundwork for ideas or systems illustrates a classic pattern of metaphorical extension, where a tangible object provides a model for understanding an intangible concept.

Structure: bas (base) + is (noun suffix) 'bas' is from Greek basis (a step, base, pedestal), from the verb bainein (to go, to step). The suffix '-is' is a Latin noun-forming suffix, often used in scientific and learned borrowings from Greek and Latin.