under English · revision 1844

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Beowulf)|origins=ine-pro *n̥dher-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈʌn.də/ ''(UK)''; /ˈʌn.dɚ/ ''(US)''^(Roach et al. 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|under]], [[inh|ang|under|t=beneath, among, in subjection to]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD) from [[gem-pro|*under-]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) from [[ine-pro|*n̥dher-|t=under]].^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Its cognates include [[nl|onder]], [[de|unter]], [[non|undir]] and [[got|𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌰𐍂|tr=undar]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) and outside Germanic [[la|infrā|t=below]], [[m|la|inferus|t=lower]] and [[sa|अधः|tr=adháḥ|t=below]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) Old English ''under'' also meant “between, among”, as still in the phrase “under these circumstances”;^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) Barnhart, Klein and Weekley derive this sense from a different root, the one in [[la|inter|t=between]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(Weekley 1921) and Etymonline allows that it may be so.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Beneath, below; in subjection to (Old English, about 725, in ''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The notion of being inferior in rank or position was already present in Old English.^(Etymonline) ''Under'' was productive as a prefix, often forming words modelled on Latin ones in ''sub-'', and Middle English had more than 200 words with it.^(Etymonline) With reference to standards, “less than in age, price or value”, it dates from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) The adjective, “lower in position or rank”, appears in the 13th century,^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and the Shorter Oxford explains it as detached from compounds on the model of ''over''.^(SOED 2002) Figurative phrases include ''under one's wing'' (early 13th century), ''under one's nose'' (1540s), ''under one's hat'', secret (1885), and ''under one's belt'', first literally of food or drink (1839).^(Etymonline) ''Down under'', in the Antipodes, is recorded from 1899,^(OED 1989) and ''under'', unconscious or anaesthetized, from the 1930s.^(HTOED)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''under'', in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 13th century – ''under someone's wing''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 13th century – as an adjective.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * late 14th century – less than.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – ''under one's nose''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1731 – ''unders'', underclothes.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1885 – ''under one's hat''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1899 – ''down under''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1930s – unconscious, under anaesthetic.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # In or to a position below or beneath: ''under the bed''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Beneath the surface or cover of: ''under water''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Less than: ''under forty years''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Lower in rank than; subject to the [[authority]] or control of: ''served under the general''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Undergoing or affected by: ''under pressure'' or ''under repair''.^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # In accordance with; within the category of: ''under the terms of the contract'' or ''under theology''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Using as a name: ''under an assumed name''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Planted with: ''a field under corn''.^(Collins 2023)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In or into a lower position; below or beneath.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Less than a quantity or limit.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Into subjection or unconsciousness: ''put the patient under''.^(MW Collegiate)^(HTOED)

+ # Down to defeat or ruin: ''businesses going under''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lower; beneath something.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Lower in rank; subordinate.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Less than is required.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hereunder]]

+ * [[thereunder]]

+ * [[underbody]]

+ * [[underclothes]]

+ * [[undercover]]

+ * [[undereye]]

+ * [[underhand]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[over]]

+ * [[infra]]

+ * [[inferior]]

+ * [[infernal]]

+ * [[understand]]

+ * [[underneath]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}