The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1796
(a) Denoting relation to some thing or person that is superior, weighs upon, oppresses, bows down, governs, directs, influences powerfully, or the like, in a relation of subjection, subordination, obligation, liability, or the like; as, to travel under a heavy load; to live under extreme oppression; to have fortitude under the evils of life; to have patience under pain, or under misfortunes; to behave like a Christian under reproaches and injuries; under the pains and penalties of the law; the condition under which one enters upon an office; under the necessity of obeying the laws; under vows of chastity.
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Both Jews and Gentiles . . . are all under sin. Rom. iii. 9.
That led the embattled seraphim to war Under thy conduct. Milton.
Who have their provand Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows For sinking under them. Shak.
(b) Denoting relation to something that exceeds in rank or degree, in number, size, weight, age, or the like; in a relation of the less to the greater, of inferiority, or of falling short.
Three sons he dying left under age. Spenser.
Medicines take effect sometimes under , and sometimes above, the natural proportion of their virtue. Hooker.
There are several hundred parishes in England under twenty pounds a year. Swift.
It was too great an honor for any man under a duke. Addison.
&hand; Hence, it sometimes means at , with , or for , less than ; as, he would not sell the horse under sixty dollars.
Several young men could never leave the pulpit under half a dozen conceits. Swift.
(c) Denoting relation to something that comprehends or includes, that represents or designates, that furnishes a cover, pretext, pretense, or the like; as, he betrayed him under the guise of friendship; Morpheus is represented under the figure of a boy asleep .
A crew who, under names of old renown . . . abused Fanatic Egypt. Milton.
Mr. Duke may be mentioned under the double capacity of a poet and a divine. Felton.
Under this head may come in the several contests and wars betwixt popes and the secular princes. C. Leslie.
(d) Less specifically, denoting the relation of being subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or the like; as, a bill under discussion .
Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, Under amazement of their hideous change. Milton.
Under arms . (Mil.) (a) Drawn up fully armed and equipped. (b) Enrolled for military service; as, the state has a million men under arms . -- Under canvas . (a) (Naut.) Moved or propelled by sails; -- said of any vessel with her sail set, but especially of a steamer using her sails only, as distinguished from one under steam . Under steam and canvas signifies that a vessel is using both means of propulsion. (b) (Mil.) Provided with, or sheltered in, tents. -- Under fire , exposed to an enemy's fire; taking part in a battle or general engagement. -- Under foot . See under Foot , n. -- Under ground , below the surface of the ground. -- Under one's signature , with one's signature or name subscribed; attested or confirmed by one's signature. Cf. the second Note under Over , prep. -- Under sail . (Naut.) (a) With anchor up, and under the influence of sails; moved by sails; in motion. (b) With sails set, though the anchor is down. (c) Same as Under canvas (a) , above. Totten . -- Under sentence , having had one's sentence pronounced. -- Under the breath , with low voice; very softly. -- Under the lee (Naut.) , to the leeward; as, under the lee of the land . -- Under the rose . See under Rose , n. -- Under water , below the surface of the water. -- Under way , ∨ Under weigh (Naut.) , in a condition to make progress; having started.
Under <Xpage=1569>
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 unsuccessful; to fail .
I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. 1 Cor. ix. 27.
The minstrel fell, but the foeman's chain Could not bring his proud soul under . Moore.
&hand; Under is often used in composition with a verb to indicate lowness or inferiority in position or degree , in the act named by the verb; as, to under line; to under mine; to under prop.
Under <Xpage=1569>
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 under current; under tone; under dose; under -garment; under officer; under sheriff .
Under covert (Zo\'94l.) , one of the feathers situated beneath the bases of the quills in the wings and tail of a bird. See Illust . under Bird .
Underact <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*act" (?) , v. t. To perform inefficiently, as a play; to act feebly.
Underaction <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*ac`tion (?) , n. Subordinate action; a minor action incidental or subsidiary to the main story; an episode.
The least episodes or underactions . . . are parts necessary or convenient to carry on the main design. Dryden.
Underactor <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*ac`tor (?) , n. A subordinate actor.
Under-age <Xpage=1569>
Un"der-age` (?) , a. Not having arrived at adult age, or at years of discretion; hence, raw; green; immature; boyish; childish. [Obs.]
I myself have loved a lady, and pursued her with a great deal of under-age protestation. J. Webster.
Underagent <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*a`gent (?) , n. A subordinate agent.
Underaid <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*aid" (?) , v. t. To aid clandestinely. [Obs.]
Under-arm <Xpage=1569>
Un"der-arm (?) , a. (Cricket) Done (as bowling) with the arm not raised above the elbow, that is, not swung far out from the body; underhand. Cf. Over-arm and Round-Arm .
Underback <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*back` (?) , n. (Brewing) A vessel which receives the wort as it flows from the mashing tub.
Underbear <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*bear" (?) , v. t. [AS. underberan . See Under , and Bear to support.] 1. To support; to endure. [Obs.]
Shak.
2. To line; to guard; to face; as, cloth of gold underborne with blue tinsel . [Obs.]
Shak.
Underbearer <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*bear`er (?) , n. One who supports or sustains; especially, at a funeral, one of those who bear the copse, as distinguished from a bearer , or pallbearer , who helps to hold up the pall.
Underbid <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*bid" (?) , v. t. To bid less than, as when a contract or service is offered to the lowest bidder; to offer to contract, sell, or do for a less price than.
Underbind <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*bind" (?) , v. t. To bind beneath.
Fairfax.
Underboard <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*board` (?) , adv. Under the board, or table; hence, secretly; unfairly; underhand. See the Note under Aboveboard .
Underbrace <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*brace (?) , v. t. To brace, fasten, or bind underneath or below.
Cowper.
Underbranch <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*branch` (?) , n. 1. A lower branch.
2. A twig or branchlet. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Underbred <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*bred` (?) , a. Not thoroughly bred; ill-bred; as, an underbred fellow .
Goldsmith.
Underbrush <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*brush` (?) , n. Shrubs, small trees, and the like, in a wood or forest, growing beneath large trees; undergrowth.
Underbuilder <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*build`er (?) , n. A subordinate or assistant builder.
An underbuilder in the house of God. Jer. Taylor.
Underbuilding <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*build`ing , n. Same as Substruction .
Underbuy <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*buy" (?) , v. t. To buy at less than the real value or worth; to buy cheaper than. [R.]
J. Fletcher.
Undercast <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*cast" (?) , v. t. To cast under or beneath.
Underchamberlain <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*cham"ber*lain (?) , n. A deputy chamberlain of the exchequer.
Underchanter <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*chant"er (?) , n. Same as Subchanter .
Underchaps <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*chaps` (?) , n. pl. The lower chaps or jaw.
Paley.
Undercharge <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*charge" (?) , v. t. 1. To charge below or under; to charge less than is usual or suitable fro; as, to undercharge goods or services .
2. To put too small a charge into; as, to undercharge a gun .
Undercharged mine (Mil.) , a mine whose crater is not as wide at top as it is deep.
W. P. Craighill.
Undercharge <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*charge` (?) , n. A charge that is less than is usual or suitable.
Underclay <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*clay` (?) , n. (Geol.) A stratum of clay lying beneath a coal bed, often containing the roots of coal plants, especially the Stigmaria .
Undercliff <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*cliff` (?) , n. A subordinate cliff on a shore, consisting of material that has fallen from the higher cliff above.
Underclothes <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*clothes` (?) , n. pl. Clothes worn under others, especially those worn next the skin for warmth.
Underclothing <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*cloth`ing (?) , n. Same as Underclothes .
Undercoat <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*coat` (?) , n. 1. A coat worn under another; a light coat, as distinguished from an overcoat, or a greatcoat.
2. A growth of short hair or fur partially concealed by a longer growth; as, a dog's undercoat .
Underconduct <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*con`duct (?) , n. A lower conduit; a subterranean conduit. [Obs.]
Sir H. Wotton.
Underconsumption <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*con*sump"tion (?) , n. (Polit. Econ.) Consumption of less than is produced; consumption of less than the usual amount.
F. A. Walk<?/r.
Undercraft <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*craft` (?) , n. A sly trick or device; as, an undercraft of authors . [R.]
Sterne.
Undercreep <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*creep" (?) , v. i. To creep secretly or privily. [Obs.]
Wyclif.
Undercrest <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*crest" (?) , v. t. To support as a crest; to bear. [Obs. & R.]
Shak.
Undercroft <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*croft (?) , n. [ Under + Prov. E. croft a vault; cf. OD. krochte crypt, and E. crypt .] (Arch.) A subterranean room of any kind; esp., one under a church (see Crypt ), or one used as a chapel or for any sacred purpose.
Undercry <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*cry" (?) , v. i. To cry aloud. [Obs.]
Wyclif.
Undercurrent <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*cur`rent (?) , n. 1. A current below the surface of water, sometimes flowing in a contrary direction to that on the surface.
Totten.
2. Hence, figuratively, a tendency of feeling, opinion, or the like, in a direction contrary to what is publicly shown; an unseen influence or tendency; as, a strong undercurrent of sentiment in favor of a prisoner .
All the while there was a busy undercurrent in her. G. Eliot.
Undercurrent <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*cur`rent , a. Running beneath the surface; hidden. [R.] " Undercurrent woe."
Tennyson.
Undercut <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*cut` (?) , n. The lower or under side of a sirloin of beef; the fillet.
Undercut <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*cut" (?) , v. t. To cut away, as the side of an object, so as to leave an overhanging portion.
Underdealing <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*deal`ing (?) , n. Crafty, unfair, or underhand dealing; unfair practice; trickery.
Milton.
Underdelve <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*delve" (?) , v. t. To delve under. [Obs.]
Underdig <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*dig" (?) , v. t. To dig under or beneath; to undermine. [Obs.]
Wyclif.
Underditch <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*ditch" (?) , v. t. To dig an underground ditches in, so as to drain the surface; to underdrain; as, to underditch a field or a farm .
Underdo <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*do" (?) , v. i. To do less than is requisite or proper; -- opposed to overdo .
Grew.
Underdo <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*do" , v. t. To do less thoroughly than is requisite; specifically, to cook insufficiently; as, to underdo the meat ; -- opposed to overdo .
Underdoer <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*do`er (?) , n. One who underdoes; a shirk.
Underdolven <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*dolv"en (?) , obs. p. p. of Underdelve .
Underdose <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*dose` (?) , n. A dose which is less than required; a small or insufficient dose.
Underdose <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*dose" (?) , v. t. & i. To give an underdose or underdoses to; to practice giving insufficient doses.
Underdrain <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*drain` (?) , n. An underground drain or trench with openings through which the water may percolate from the soil or ground above.
Underdrain <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*drain" (?) , v. t. To drain by forming an underdrain or underdrains in; as, to underdrain land .
Underdressed <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*dressed" (?) , a. Not dresses enough.
Underestimate <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*es"ti*mate (?) , v. t. To set to<?/ low a value on; to estimate below the truth.
Underestimate <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*es"ti*mate (?) , n. The act of underestimating; too low an estimate.
Underfaction <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*fac`tion (?) , n. A subordinate party or faction.
Underfaculty <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*fac`ul*ty (?) , n. An inferior or subordinate faculty.
Underfarmer <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*farm`er (?) , n. An assistant farmer.
Underfeed <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*feed" (?) , v. t. To feed with too little food; to supply with an insufficient quantity of food.
Underfellow <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*fel`low (?) , n. An underling <?/<?/ mean, low fellow. [R.]
Sir P. Sidney.
Underfilling <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*fill`ing (?) , n. The filling below or beneath; the under part of a building.
Sir H. Wotton.
Underfollow <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*fol"low (?) , v. t. To follow closely or immediately after. [Obs.]
Wyclif.
Underfong <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*fong" (?) , v. t. [AS. underfongen , p. p. of underf<?/n to undertake; under under + f<?/n to take. See Fang to seize.] 1. To undertake; to take in hand; to receive. [Obs.]
Piers Plowman. Rom. of R.
2. To insnare; to circumvent. [Obs.]
Spenser.
3. To sustain; to support; to guard.
Nash.
Underfoot <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*foot" (?) , adv. Under the feet; underneath; below. See Under foot , under Foot , n.
Underfoot <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*foot" , a. Low; base; abject; trodden down.
Underfringe <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*fringe` (?) , n. A lower fringe; a fringe underneath something.
Broad-faced, with underfringe of russet beard. Tennyson.
Underfurnish <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*fur"nish (?) , v. t. To supply with less than enough; to furnish insufficiently.
Collier.
Underfurrow <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*fur"row (?) , v. t. To cover as under a furrow; to plow in; as, to underfurrow seed or manure .
Under-garment <Xpage=1569>
Un"der-gar`ment (?) , n. A garment worn below another.
Underget <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*get" (?) , v. t. To get under or beneath; also, to understand. [Obs.]
R. of Gloucester.
Undergird <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*gird" (?) , v. t. To blind below; to gird round the bottom.
They used helps, undergirding the ship. Acts xxvii. 17.
Underglaze <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*glaze` (?) , a. Applied under the glaze, that is, before the glaze, that is, before the glaze is put on; fitted to be so applied; -- said of colors in porcelain painting.
Undergo <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*go" (?) , v. t. [ imp. Underwent (?) ; p. p. Undergone (?; 115) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Undergoing .] [AS. underg\'ben . See Under , and Go .] 1. To go or move below or under. [Obs.]
2. To be subjected to; to bear up against; to pass through; to endure; to suffer; to sustain; as, to undergo toil and fatigue; to undergo pain, grief, or anxiety; to undergo the operation of amputation; food in the stomach undergoes the process of digestion .
Certain to undergo like doom. Milton.
3. To be the bearer of; to possess. [Obs.]
Their virtues else, be they as pure as grace, As infinite as man may undergo . Shak.
4. To undertake; to engage in; to hazard. [Obs.]
I have moved already Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans To undergo with me an enterprise. Shak.
5. To be subject or amenable to; to underlie. [Obs.]
Claudio undergoes my challenge. Shak.
Undergod <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*god` (?) , n. A lower or inferio<?/ god; a subordinate deity; a demigod.
Undergore <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*gore" (?) , v. t. To gore underneath.
Undergown <Xpage=1569>
Un"der*gown` (?) , n. A gown worn under another, or under some other article of dress.
An undergown and kirtle of pale sea-green silk. Sir W. Scott.
Undergraduate <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*grad"u*ate (?) , n. A member of a university or a college who has not taken his first degree; a student in any school who has not completed his course.
Undergraduate <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*grad"u*ate , a. Of or pertaining to an undergraduate, or the body of undergraduates.
Undergraduateship <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*grad"u*ate*ship , n. The position or condition of an undergraduate.
Undergroan <Xpage=1569>
Un`der*groan (?) , v. t. To groan beneath. [Obs.]