under en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈʌndɚ/ (General-American)
- ŭnʹ-dər (General-American)
- /ˈʌndəɾ/ (Scotland)
- (General-American) audio
- [ˈʌɾ̃ɚ] (General-American)
- /ˈʊndə/ (Northern-England)
- /ˈʌndə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (General-American) audio
- [ˈʌn(ɾ)ɚ] (General-American)
- /ˈʊndɐ/ (Northumbria)
Etymology
From Middle English under, from Old English under, from Proto-West Germanic *undar, from Proto-Germanic *under, from a merger of Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér (“under”) and *h₁entér (“inside”). Cognate with German unter, Dutch onder, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish under, Faroese and Icelandic undir; also Old High German untar (“under”), Sanskrit अन्तर् (antar, “within”), Latin infrā (“below, beneath”) and inter (“between, among”).
Meanings
-
Lower; beneath something.
The advantages he gains are of double security to him ; first, by the support of his haunches, being at all times more under than before, he learns to be more active with his hind-quarters
1835, J G. Peters, A treatise on equitation, or the art of horsemanship, page 179:If you allow the right hand to turn under more than the left, a pull will result, and if the left is more under than the right, a sliced ball will surely follow.
1908, Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles, The American golfer, volumes 1-2, page 10:This treatment protects the under portion of the car from rust.
The waves are so steep, they crash so fast and furious I'm more under than up.
2009, Doris Lessing, Briefing for a Descent Into Hell, page 30:(in compounds) underbelly, underside, undershirt, undersecretary
-
In a state of subordination, submission or defeat.
I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians ix:27:The army could not keep the people under.
When ready for sea we went up to Greenhithe, that their lordships might inspect us, and then to Portsmouth, to take troops to Cork, a pleasant trip; but the troops left us a legacy of "mahogany flats," with which their beds were so swarming that we never got them under.
1892, Sir George Giffard, Reminiscences of a Naval Officer, page 45:
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(colloquial) Under anesthesia, especially general anesthesia; sedated.
“Sam, can we see Pop now?” “Sure Kathy, but he’s been sedated and he’s on morphine to control the pain. He won’t be coherent and he might not recognize any of us.” […] “Dad, we’re here. We came to see you.” There was no response. “Pop, we’re here to see you.” “I guess he’s too far under to recognize us.[…]”
2009, John W. Mangum, chapter 9, in Full Circle: 360°’s of Life, Sonoita, Ariz.: Running Iron Press, →ISBN, page 83:To the anesthetist Moynihan said, “Have a look down the hall, will you, and see if the nurse has the bed ready. And leave the doors open when you come back so we can carry him through. Send anybody but the nurse away. Then come back and give us a hand with him. Not that he’s so heavy . . .” And then to Matthew, “He’s so far under I’m going to wait a bit for the hypo.”
1968, Agatha Young, chapter 44, in I Swear by Apollo, New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 461:Ensure the patient is sufficiently under.
She can’t hear us. She’s so far under, that her sensory receptors aren’t working. Her brain regions that regulate waking consciousness and dreaming are shut down. No electrical activity. Only numbness and forgetting.
2007, John Likides, chapter 14, in Infinite Sustain, [Philadelphia, Pa.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 225:
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(informal) Having a particular property that is low, especially so as to be insufficient or lacking in a particular respect.
My pay packet last week was £10 under.
My round of golf today was three under.
This chicken is a bit under.
This bag of apples feels under.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more under | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most under | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
under lock and key (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · brush something under the carpet (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underway (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Underhill (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · fromunda cheese (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · undercut (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Barton-under-Needwood (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under glass (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · triple-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under and over (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · go under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-handedness (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under par (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · keep under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · live under a rock (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-extension (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the surface (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's very nose (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · red under the bed (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's thumb (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the rule (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · have had one's day under the sun (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's hand (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · one can't carry two watermelons under one arm (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-manager (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-carter (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underground (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · pop-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · driving under the influence (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-stander (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-dose (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · stand under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · talk someone under the table (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's feet (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Blymhill and Weston-under-Lizard (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · put under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · monster under the bed (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under no circumstance (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the loupe (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · suck under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Preston-under-Scar (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · undertie (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-sergeant (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under arrest (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under seal (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · draw a line under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the sheets (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · throw under the bus (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's arm (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · parliamentary under secretary (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · sweep something under the rug (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Weston-under-Redcastle (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the rug (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the illusion (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the magnifying glass (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under- · under control (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Eaton-under-Heywood (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Boughton under Blean (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-educated (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under weigh (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under someone's roof (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · over-and-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · hot under the collar (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · light a fire under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underresource (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · burr under one's saddle (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · fall under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the sun (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Newcastle-under-Lyme (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underbrow (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under center (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the spotlight (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · am I under arrest (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underling (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · put someone under the screw (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underthigh (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underwise (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · get under one's goat (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the hood (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · up-and-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Wotton-under-Edge (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under pain of (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · bring under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-represented (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-resourced (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · flyunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the weather (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · patient under investigation (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one roof (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · let the grass grow under one's feet (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under boob (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under erasure (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-diversify (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-handed (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-served (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · look under rocks (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · sell out from under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Weston under Penyard (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underachieve (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · bag under the eye (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under over (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · hereunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under canvas (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-approximation (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underage (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · get under someone's skin (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Stanton under Bardon (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under fire (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's very eyes (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · snowed under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · dunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under a cloud (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · lock under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-eye bag (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Weston-under-Lizard (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underreport (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-spur-leather (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the radar (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · bob under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underneath (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-fired (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · get out from under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · snow under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · knuckle under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · brush something under the rug (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-represent (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · hereinunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the wire (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under cover (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under hatches (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underpuppy (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under no circumstances (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · undertow (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · land under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-eye (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · interview under caution (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · take under advisement (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-approximate (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · put someone under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · there is nothing new under the sun (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · put one's legs under someone's mahogany (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · bubble under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the pump (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-steward (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underclothes (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · sweep something under the carpet (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-hedging (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · undertrial (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · down under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · cut the ground from under someone's feet (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · pull the rug out from under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under way (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-diversification (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · double-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Ascott-under-Wychwood (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under a spell (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · knock under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underthought (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · rollunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under hack (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · drink someone under the table (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the table (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · stand from under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under oath (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under ground (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-accommodate (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the bootheel of (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Hope under Dinmore (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · slip under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · take under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · slip under the radar (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · whereunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the microscope (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · up and under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · voice-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · fly-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underarm (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · herring under a fur coat (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under someone's nose (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · buy out from under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under water (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-ripe (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the counter (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the yoke (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · undertext (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's wing (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the lee (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · device under test (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · everything under the sun (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-awed (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · five-and-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · thereinunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the cosh (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · crossunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · gazunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-accommodating (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-the-table (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underrate (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Ashton-under-Lyne (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · undercurrent (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underflush (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the stars (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-petticoat (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · build a fire under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the fist of (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the carpet (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the covers (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the jail (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-trial (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under a lucky star (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under sail (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · nothing new under the sun (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-accommodation (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-punctuation (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-attended (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underlinen (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underness (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-representation (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under construction (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · plough under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · six feet under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the auspices of (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · thereunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · person under train (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Simple Simon under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underhanded (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the plough (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's hat (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · come under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · undereye (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under square (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the impression (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-the-counter (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · undercover (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's own steam (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-endowed (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · land down under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the rose (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underworld (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underwater (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the knife (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · undersheet (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the hammer (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · bag under one's eye (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-attend (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · squeeze under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · water under the bridge (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · over-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · turn under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-oxygenated (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · buckle under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · drink under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · sleep under the same bridge (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the influence (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · one under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · understander (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · the darkest place is under the candlestick (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · drink under the table (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Milton-under-Wychwood (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underrobe (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · chicken under a brick (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · pass under the yoke (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Shipton-under-Wychwood (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-tenant (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under protest (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-kimono (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · get under it (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · push under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · get under someone's goat (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under wraps (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the saya (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the breath (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · makeunder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · throw under a bus (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under clothes (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · hide one's light under a bushel (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the gun (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underbody (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · over and under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · time under tension (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · sit under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underwing (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · fold under zero pressure (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under tow (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · sail under false colors (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's breath (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-handedly (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · take-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · plow under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under the mahogany (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under correction (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underly (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · dive-under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · cut under (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under one's belt (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-accommodated (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · underhand (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · undermost (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under arms (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · under-grounder (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · Ashton under Hill (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech)) · fly under the radar (Terms derived from under (all parts of speech))