The fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained.
synonyms: base, basis, cornerstone, foundation, fundament.
Roget 3:
substantiality,
hypostasis;
person,
being,
thing,
object,
article,
item;
something,
a being,
an existence;
creature,
body,
substance,
flesh and blood,
stuff,
substratum;
matter
etc.
316;
corporeity†,
element,
essential nature,
groundwork,
materiality,
substantialness,
vital part.
[Totality of existences],
world
etc.
318;
plenum.
... show more
Roget 64:
precursor,
antecedent,
precedent,
predecessor;
forerunner,
vancourier†,
avant-coureur [Fr.],
pioneer,
prodrome†,
prodromos†,
prodromus†,
outrider;
leader,
bellwether;
herald,
harbinger;
foreboding;
dawn;
avant-courier,
avant-garde,
bellmare†,
forelooper†,
foreloper†,
stalking-horse,
voorlooper [Afrik.],
voortrekker [Afrik.].
prelude,
preamble,
preface,
prologue,
foreword,
avant-propos [Fr.],
protasis†,
proemium†,
prolusion†,
proem,
prolepsis [Gramm.],
prolegomena,
prefix,
introduction;
heading,
frontispiece,
groundwork;
preparation
etc.
673;
overture,
exordium [Lat.],
symphony;
premises.
prefigurement
etc.
511;
omen
etc.
512.
... show more
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.
... show more
Roget 215:
support,
ground,
foundation,
base,
basis;
terra firma;
bearing,
fulcrum,
bait [U.S.],
caudex crib†;
point d'appui [Fr.],
pou sto [Gr.],
purchase footing,
hold,
locus standi [Lat.];
landing place,
landing stage;
stage,
platform;
block;
rest,
resting place;
groundwork,
substratum,
riprap,
sustentation,
subvention;
floor
etc.
(basement)
211.
supporter;
aid
etc.
707;
prop,
stand,
anvil,
fulciment†;
cue rest,
jigger;
monkey;
stay,
shore,
skid,
rib,
truss,
bandage;
sleeper;
stirrup,
stilts,
shoe,
sole,
heel,
splint,
lap,
bar,
rod,
boom,
sprit†,
outrigger;
ratlings†.
staff,
stick,
crutch,
alpenstock,
baton,
staddle†;
bourdon†,
cowlstaff†,
lathi†,
mahlstick†.
post,
pillar,
shaft,
thill†,
column,
pilaster;
pediment,
pedicle;
pedestal;
plinth,
shank,
leg,
socle†,
zocle†;
buttress,
jamb,
mullion,
abutment;
baluster,
banister,
stanchion;
balustrade;
headstone;
upright;
door post,
jamb,
door jamb.
frame,
framework;
scaffold,
skeleton,
beam,
rafter,
girder,
lintel,
joist,
travis†,
trave†,
corner stone,
summer,
transom;
rung,
round,
step,
sill;
angle rafter,
hip rafter;
cantilever,
modillion†;
crown post,
king post;
vertebra.
columella†,
backbone;
keystone;
axle,
axletree;
axis;
arch,
mainstay.
trunnion,
pivot,
rowlock†;
peg
etc.
(pendency)
214†;
tiebeam
etc.
(fastening)
45;
thole pin†.
board,
ledge,
shelf,
hob,
bracket,
trevet†,
trivet,
arbor,
rack;
mantel,
mantle piece [Fr.],
mantleshelf†;
slab,
console;
counter,
dresser;
flange,
corbel;
table,
trestle;
shoulder;
perch;
horse;
easel,
desk;
clotheshorse,
hatrack;
retable;
teapoy†.
seat,
throne,
dais;
divan,
musnud†;
chair,
bench,
form,
stool,
sofa,
settee,
stall;
arm chair,
easy chair,
elbow chair,
rocking chair;
couch,
fauteuil [Fr.],
woolsack†,
ottoman,
settle,
squab,
bench;
aparejo†,
faldstool†,
horn;
long chair,
long sleeve chair,
morris chair;
lamba chauki†,
lamba kursi†;
saddle,
pannel†,
pillion;
side saddle,
pack saddle;
pommel.
bed,
berth,
pallet,
tester,
crib,
cot,
hammock,
shakedown,
trucklebed†,
cradle,
litter,
stretcher,
bedstead;
four poster,
French bed,
bunk,
kip,
palang†;
bedding,
bichhona,
mattress,
paillasse†;
pillow,
bolster;
mat,
rug,
cushion.
footstool,
hassock;
tabouret†;
tripod,
monopod.
Atlas,
Persides,
Atlantes†,
Caryatides,
Hercules.
... show more
Roget 673:
preparation;
providing
etc.
v.;
provision,
providence;
anticipation
etc.
(foresight)
510;
precaution,
preconcertation†,
predisposition;
forecast
etc.
(plan)
626;
rehearsal,
note of preparation.
[Putting in order]
arrangement
etc.
60;
clearance;
adjustment
etc.
23;
tuning;
equipment,
outfit,
accouterment,
armament,
array.
ripening
etc.
v.;
maturation,
evolution;
elaboration,
concoction,
digestion;
gestation,
batching,
incubation,
sitting.
groundwork,
first stone,
cradle,
stepping-stone;
foundation,
scaffold
etc.
(support)
215;
scaffolding,
echafaudage [Fr.].
[Preparation of men]
training
etc.
(education)
537;
inurement
etc.
(habit)
613;
novitiate;
cooking
[Preparation of food],
cookery;
brewing,
culinary art;
tilling,
plowing,
[Preparation of the soil],
sowing;
semination†,
cultivation.
[State of being prepared]
preparedness,
readiness,
ripeness,
mellowness;
maturity;
un impromptu fait a loisir [Fr.].
[Preparer]
preparer,
trainer;
pioneer,
trailblazer;
avant-courrier [Fr.],
avant-coureur [Fr.];
voortrekker [Afrik.];
sappers and miners,
pavior†,
navvy†;
packer,
stevedore;
warming pan.
... show more
Dutch: fundament, grond, grondslag, hoeksteen, initia, ondergrond, pijler, substantie, voet