under

under
under (prep., adv.) O.E. under, from P.Gmc. *under- (Cf. O.Fris. under, Du. onder, O.H.G. untar, Ger. unter, O.N. undir, Goth. undar), from PIE *ndhero- "lower" (Cf. Skt. adhah "below;" Avestan athara- "lower;" L. infernus "lower," infra "below"). Notion of "subordination" was present in O.E. Also used in O.E. as a preposition meaning "between, among," as still in under these circumstances, etc. (though this may be an entirely separate root; see UNDERSTAND (Cf. understand)). Productive as a prefix in Old English, as in German and Scandinavian. Under the table is from 1921 in the sense of "very drunk," 1940s in sense of "illegal." To get something under (one's) belt is from 1954; to keep something under (one's) hat "secret" is from 1885; to have something under (one's) nose "in plain sight" is from 1540s; to speak under (one's) breath "in a low voice" is attested from 1832. To be under (someone's) thumb "entirely controlled" is recorded from 1754.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Under — Un der, prep. [AS. under, prep. & adv.; akin to OFries. under, OS. undar, D. onder, G. unter, OHG. untar, Icel. undir, Sw. & Dan. under, Goth. undar, L. infra below, inferior lower, Skr. adhas below. [root]201. Cf. {Inferior}.] 1. Below or lower …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • under — [un′dər] prep. [ME < OE, akin to Ger unter < IE * ṇdhos, *ṇdheri, under > L infra, below] 1. in, at, or to a position down from; lower than; below [shoes under the bed, under a blazing sun] 2. beneath the surface of [under water] 3.… …   English World dictionary

  • Under — Série Logo de la série Scénario Christophe Bec Dessin …   Wikipédia en Français

  • under — *under germ., Adverb, Präposition: nhd. unter, zwischen; ne. under, between; Rekontruktionsbasis: got., an., ae., afries., anfrk., as., ahd.; Etymologie …   Germanisches Wörterbuch

  • Under — Un der, adv. In a lower, subject, or subordinate condition; in subjection; used chiefly in a few idiomatic phrases; as, to bring under, to reduce to subjection; to subdue; to keep under, to keep in subjection; to control; to go under, to be… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Under — Un der, a. Lower in position, intensity, rank, or degree; subject; subordinate; generally in composition with a noun, and written with or without the hyphen; as, an undercurrent; undertone; underdose; under garment; underofficer; undersheriff.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • under — {{hw}}{{under}}{{/hw}}(sempre seguito da un num. card.) A s. m.  e f.  spec. al pl. Atleta al disotto di una data età: gli under 21. B agg. ; anche s. f. Squadra formata di atleti al disotto di una data età: la nazionale under 21; l under 21 ha… …   Enciclopedia di italiano

  • under- — [ʌndə US dər] prefix 1.) less of an action or quality than is correct, needed, or desired ▪ underdevelopment ▪ undercooked cabbage 2.) going under something ▪ an underpass (=a road or path that goes under another road) 3.) inside or beneath other …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • under- — [ʌndə US dər] prefix 1.) less of an action or quality than is correct, needed, or desired ▪ underdevelopment ▪ undercooked cabbage 2.) going under something ▪ an underpass (=a road or path that goes under another road) 3.) inside or beneath other …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • under- — [ ʌndər ] prefix 1. ) not enough: used with many nouns, verbs, and adjectives: under exposed under nourished 2. ) below: used with many nouns: underpass underwater underfloor heating 3. ) less powerful or important: used with some nouns: an under …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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