Dictionary

underaction en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌʌndəɹˈækʃən/

Etymology

From under- + action.

Meanings

1. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) subplot; a minor event incidental or subsidiary to the main story.
   • The least and most trivial episodes or underactions […] are parts necessary or convenient to carry on the main design. 1697, Virgil, “Dedication to Virgil's Aeneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page [151]:
2. (countable, uncountable) Inefficient action.

Forms