Basement
/ˈbeɪs.mənt/noun
The lowest part of a building, partly or wholly below ground level.
Did you know?*Basement* is a later English formation from *base* plus the suffix *-ment*; the eerie underground vibe is modern, but the word itself is really about foundation, not darkness.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
basis
“A foundation or pedestal.”
Old French
OF
bas
“Low, inferior, or beneath.”
Middle English
ME
base
“Low, bottom, or foundation.”
16th Century
English
basement
“A lower part or foundation of a structure.”
Modern English
English
basement
“The lowest part of a building, often below ground.”