ground

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ground
A. bottom, now only of the sea OE.; pl. dregs, lees XIV;

B. base, foundation, now mainly techn. or fig. (reason, motive XIII) OE.;

C. surface of the earth OE.; specific portion of this XIV (pl. enclosed land attached to a building XV). OE grund = OS. grund (Du. grond), OHG. grunt (G. grund), Goth. *grundus :- Gmc. *ʒrunduz, rel. to ON. grund grassy plain, grunnr bottom.
Hence ground vb. †lay the foundation of XIII; give a basis to XIV; put on the ground or ashore, strand XV.

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