| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | agency | organization providing services |
| 2. | anchor | source of stability or support |
| 3. | antecedent | earlier source or cause |
| 4. | argument | reasoned basis for a claim |
| 5. | association | organized group of members |
| 6. | assumption | accepted basis for reasoning |
| 7. | authority | accepted source or justification |
| 8. | axiom | self-evident basic principle |
| 9. | backbone | chief strength or support |
| 10. | base | supporting bottom or starting point |
| 11. | basis | underlying support or reason |
| 12. | beam | long supporting piece |
| 13. | bedrock | firmest underlying basis |
| 14. | beginning | first point or start |
| 15. | bottom | lowest supporting part |
| 16. | brace | piece giving extra support |
| 17. | buttress | support strengthening a wall |
| 18. | canon | accepted rule or principle |
| 19. | case | argument or basis presented |
| 20. | cause | reason something happens |
| 21. | column | upright supporting element |
| 22. | core | central basic part |
| 23. | cornerstone | essential supporting part |
| 24. | creed | set of basic beliefs |
| 25. | criterion | basis for judgment |
| 26. | datum | single basis of information |
| 27. | doctrine | taught basic belief |
| 28. | dogma | authoritative basic belief |
| 29. | endowment | fund supporting an institution |
| 30. | essence | most basic nature |
| 31. | establishment | organization or founded body |
| 32. | evidence | basis for belief or proof |
| 33. | foot | bottom supporting part |
| 34. | footing | secure support or position |
| 35. | fount | source of something |
| 36. | fountainhead | original source of something |
| 37. | framework | basic supporting structure |
| 38. | fund | money set aside for use |
| 39. | fundament | basic principle or bottom |
| 40. | fundamental | basic essential principle |
| 41. | genesis | origin or beginning |
| 42. | germ | early seed of development |
| 43. | girder | large supporting beam |
| 44. | grantmaker | organization giving grants |
| 45. | ground | basis for belief or action |
| 46. | grounds | reasons or basis for action |
| 47. | groundwork | preparatory basis for later work |
| 48. | heart | central or essential part |
| 49. | hypothesis | proposed basis for inquiry |
| 50. | inception | beginning of something |
| 51. | infrastructure | basic supporting systems |
| 52. | initiation | act of starting something |
| 53. | institute | organization for a special purpose |
| 54. | institution | established organization or body |
| 55. | joist | horizontal supporting timber |
| 56. | justification | valid basis for an action |
| 57. | keystone | central supporting element |
| 58. | league | group joined for common purpose |
| 59. | linchpin | vital element holding together |
| 60. | logic | reasoning behind something |
| 61. | mainstay | chief support or reliance |
| 62. | measure | basis for assessment |
| 63. | motive | reason behind an action |
| 64. | mount | supporting setting or base |
| 65. | nonprofit | organization not seeking profit |
| 66. | norm | usual standard or basis |
| 67. | organization | organized group or institution |
| 68. | origin | beginning or starting point |
| 69. | pedestal | base supporting a statue |
| 70. | pier | supporting column or structure |
| 71. | pillar | strong supporting element |
| 72. | platform | raised supporting surface or basis |
| 73. | plinth | supporting base for a structure |
| 74. | post | upright supporting piece |
| 75. | principle | basic rule or belief |
| 76. | prop | support holding something up |
| 77. | rationale | reasoned basis for something |
| 78. | reason | basis for thought or action |
| 79. | rest | support on which something sits |
| 80. | root | source or underlying cause |
| 81. | rule | guiding principle or standard |
| 82. | skeleton | basic supporting framework |
| 83. | source | place or cause something begins |
| 84. | stanchion | upright support or post |
| 85. | stand | supporting base for an object |
| 86. | start | point where something begins |
| 87. | starting point | initial basis for action |
| 88. | structure | organized supporting arrangement |
| 89. | substratum | underlying layer or basis |
| 90. | substructure | supporting structure underneath |
| 91. | support | thing that holds something up |
| 92. | tenet | basic belief or doctrine |
| 93. | theory | explanatory basis for ideas |
| 94. | touchstone | basis for judging quality |
| 95. | trust | fund or charitable organization |
| 96. | underpinning | supporting basis beneath something |
| 97. | union | organized association of members |
| 98. | warrant | justifying basis or authority |
| 99. | wellspring | abundant source or origin |
| 100. | yardstick | standard for comparison |
