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In base

Heraldic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

In heraldry, a charge or element placed in the lower portion (base) of the shield.

Detailed Definition
‘In base’ refers to charges placed at the shield's bottom, often symbolizing foundations or earthly matters. Poets may use it metaphorically to portray grounding or origins.
Example
Example in poetry:
In base, a dolphin leapt, symbol of salvation in the depths; “In base, my roots,” the genealogical poem located origin in humility; The poet placed his hope in base, where seeds of virtue grow unseen; In base, the serpent coiled, wisdom hidden beneath glory’s display.
Additional Notes
In base means positioned at the bottom of the shield; it is one of the standard locational terms in blazon (others include "in chief," "in fess"); in poetry, placement "in base" can symbolize foundation, humility, or earthly concerns; accurate spatial language is key to heraldic precision in literary description.
Also Known As
At base In the base
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