A simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes.
synonym: root.
Roget 153:
cause,
origin,
source,
principle,
element;
occasioner†,
prime mover,
primum mobile [Lat.];
vera causa [Lat.];
author
etc.
(producer)
164;
mainspring;
agent;
leaven;
groundwork,
foundation
etc.
(support)
215.
spring,
fountain,
well,
font;
fountainhead,
spring head,
wellhead;
fons et origo [Lat.],
genesis;
descent
etc.
(paternity)
166;
remote cause;
influence.
pivot,
hinge,
turning point,
lever,
crux,
fulcrum;
key;
proximate cause,
causa causans [Lat.];
straw that breaks the camel's back.
ground;
reason,
reason why;
why and wherefore,
rationale,
occasion,
derivation;
final cause
etc.
(intention)
620;
les dessous des cartes [Fr.];
undercurrents.
rudiment.
egg,
germ,
embryo,
bud,
root,
radix radical,
etymon,
nucleus,
seed,
stem,
stock,
stirps,
trunk,
tap-root,
gemmule†,
radicle,
semen,
sperm.
nest,
cradle,
nursery,
womb,
nidus,
birthplace,
hotbed.
causality,
causation;
origination;
production
etc.
161.
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Roget 562:
word,
term,
vocable;
name
etc.
564;
phrase
etc.
566;
root,
etymon;
derivative;
part of speech
etc.
(grammar)
567;
ideophone†.
dictionary,
vocabulary,
lexicon,
glossary;
index,
concordance;
thesaurus;
gradus [Lat.],
delectus [Lat.].
etymology,
derivation;
glossology†,
terminology orismology†;
paleology
etc.
(philology)
560†.
lexicography;
glossographer
etc.
(scholar)
492;
lexicologist,
verbarian†.
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Dutch: basiswoord, etymon, grondwoord, stamwoord
Polish: źródłosłów, etymon