under

Word Origin & History

Old English under, from Proto-Germanic *under- (cf. Old Frisian under, Dutch onder, Old High German untar, German unter, Old Norse undir, Gothic undar), from PIE *ndhero- "lower" (cf. Sanskrit adhah "below;" Avestan athara- "lower;" Latin infernus "lower," infra "below").

Notion of "subordination" was present in Old English Also used in Old English as a preposition meaning "between, among," as still in under these circumstances, etc. (though this may be an entirely separate root; see 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.

Example Sentences for under

The old man was peering at him sharply from under the grey protruding brows.

John had been under her dominion, and proceeded to persuade her.

He made his way to the dining-room, where supper was under way.

I regret this, but did the best I could under the circumstances.

To my mind, under the conditions I have referred to, such could not fail to be the case.

Under its influence Hope sometimes appeared at disadvantage.

At eight o'clock we got under way, and followed along the river.

Under the eternal urge of freedom we became an independent Nation.

Under this republic the rewards of industry belong to those who earn them.

But I don't wish to be under any obligation to him, that's certain.

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below

beneath

collateral

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below