Dictionary

understudy en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈʌndɚstʌdi/ (General-American)
• /ˈʌndəstʌdi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Northern-California) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *-tér Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Indo-European *h₂én Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *-dʰi ? Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- Proto-Indo-European *(s)tew- Proto-Indo-European *-d- Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewd- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *studéh₁ti Proto-Italic *studēō Latin studeō Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -iusnom. Latin -ium Latin studiumbor. Old French estudie Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Old French -er Old French estudierbor. Middle English studien English study English understudy From under- + study.

Meanings

1. A performer who understudies; a standby for a study.
   • For Wynne-Edwards, the role of the outcasts in the welfare of the group is to wait in the wings as understudies, ready to step into the shoes of any territory holder who dies on the main stage of group reproduction. 1976, Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene, Kindle edition, OUP Oxford, published 2016, pages 153–154:

Forms

Coordinates

body double · stunt double

Synonyms

standby

Translations (18)

ru дублёр (performer who understudies) · de Einspringer (performer who understudies) · pt substituta (performer who understudies) · hy փոխարինող (performer who understudies) · de Zweitbesetzung (performer who understudies) · fr doublure (performer who understudies) · pl dublerka (performer who understudies) · ga aisteoir ionaid (performer who understudies) · pt substituto (performer who understudies) · ro dublură (performer who understudies) · bg дубльор (performer who understudies) · it doppio (performer who understudies) · mi piki (performer who understudies) · mk дублер (performer who understudies) · pl dubler (performer who understudies) · fi varanäyttelijä (performer who understudies) · hy կրկնորդիչ (performer who understudies) · es suplente (performer who understudies)

understudy en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈʌndɚstʌdi/ (General-American)
• /ˈʌndəstʌdi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Northern-California) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *-tér Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Indo-European *h₂én Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *-dʰi ? Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- Proto-Indo-European *(s)tew- Proto-Indo-European *-d- Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewd- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *studéh₁ti Proto-Italic *studēō Latin studeō Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -iusnom. Latin -ium Latin studiumbor. Old French estudie Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Old French -er Old French estudierbor. Middle English studien English study English understudy From under- + study.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To study or know a role to such an extent as to be able to replace the normal performer when required.
2. (transitive) To act as an understudy (to someone).
3. (transitive) To act in a similar manner to some known person.
   • That lean gentleman had apparently understudied Pharaoh of old and hardened his heart. 1935, Owen Conquest, Morny's Master Stroke:

Forms

Translations (17)

ro substitui (to act as an understudy) · hy կրկնորդել (to act as an understudy) · bg дублирам (to act as an understudy) · hu beugrik (helyette) (to act as an understudy) · hy փոխարինել (to act as an understudy) · fr doubler (to study or know a role to such an extent as to be able to replace the normal performer when required) · it sostituire (to act as an understudy) · pl uczyć się roli jako dubler (to study or know a role to such an extent as to be able to replace the normal performer when required) · ru дубли́ровать (to act as an understudy) · es suplantar (to act as an understudy) · pl pracować jako dubler (to act as an understudy) · ro dubla (to study or know a role to such an extent as to be able to replace the normal performer when required) · ru замеща́ть (to act as an understudy) · hu helyettesít (to act as an understudy) · ru заменя́ть (to act as an understudy) · ro înlocui (to act as an understudy) · ru вы́учить роль (to study or know a role to such an extent as to be able to replace the normal performer when required)