underneath English · revision 7939

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 893}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌʌndəˈniːθ/ ''(UK)''; /ˌʌndɚˈniθ/, /ˌʌndɚˈnið/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English undernethe, [[inh|ang|underneoþan]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[under]] and neoþan, below (see [[beneath]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Beneath or below in position: about 893 in the OED, before 899 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figuratively, under the cover or authority of something, it is from 1390,^(OED 1989) and in subjection to, under the power of, from 1375.^(OED 1989) Below the level of, inferior to, is from 1587.^(OED 1989) Subject to a condition (about 1440) and less than in amount (1455) are obsolete senses.^(OED 1989) As a noun, an under part or side, it is by the 1670s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 893 – beneath.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1375 – under the power of.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1390 – figurative use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670s – the noun.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # Directly below or under; [[beneath]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Under the power or control of.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Below or under something; on the underside.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Underlying the surface; at heart.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The part or side underneath.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[beneath]]

+ * [[under]]

+ * [[nether]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}