Under

Under
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, in place or position, with the idea of being covered; lower than; beneath; -- opposed to over; as, he stood under a tree; the carriage is under cover; a cellar extends under the whole house. [1913 Webster]

Fruit put in bottles, and the bottles let down into wells under water, will keep long. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

Be gathered now, ye waters under heaven, Into one place. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence, in many figurative uses which may be classified as follows; [1913 Webster] (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. [1913 Webster]

Both Jews and Gentiles . . . are all under sin. --Rom. iii. 9. [1913 Webster]

That led the embattled seraphim to war Under thy conduct. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Who have their provand Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows For sinking under them. --Shak. [1913 Webster] (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. [1913 Webster]

Three sons he dying left under age. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Medicines take effect sometimes under, and sometimes above, the natural proportion of their virtue. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]

There are several hundred parishes in England under twenty pounds a year. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

It was too great an honor for any man under a duke. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

Note: Hence, it sometimes means at, with, or for, less than; as, he would not sell the horse under sixty dollars. [1913 Webster]

Several young men could never leave the pulpit under half a dozen conceits. --Swift. [1913 Webster] (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. [1913 Webster]

A crew who, under names of old renown . . . abused Fanatic Egypt. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Mr. Duke may be mentioned under the double capacity of a poet and a divine. --Felton. [1913 Webster]

Under this head may come in the several contests and wars betwixt popes and the secular princes. --C. Leslie. [1913 Webster] (d) Less specifically, denoting the relation of being subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or the like; as, a bill under discussion. [1913 Webster]

Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, Under amazement of their hideous change. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{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}, or {Under weigh} (Naut.), in a condition to make progress; having started. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • 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 — (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; …   Etymology 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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