groundwork

noun

1. 1

   preliminary preparation as a basis or foundation

   we are prepared today because of groundwork that was done ten years ago

2. 2

   lowest support of a structure

   it was built on a base of solid rock

   he stood at the foot of the tower

3. 3

   the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained

   the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture