Under - Underhanded

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Both Jews and Gentiles . . . are all under sin. Rom. iii. 9.
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That led the embattled seraphim to war
Under thy conduct. Milton.
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Who have their provand
Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows
For sinking under them. Shak.
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(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.
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Three sons he dying left under age. Spenser.
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Medicines take effect sometimes under, and sometimes above, the natural proportion of their virtue. Hooker.
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There are several hundred parishes in England under twenty pounds a year. Swift.
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It was too great an honor for any man under a duke. Addison.
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☞ Hence, it sometimes means at, with, or for, less than; as, he would not sell the horse under sixty dollars.
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Several young men could never leave the pulpit under half a dozen conceits. Swift.
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(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.
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A crew who, under names of old renown . . . abused
Fanatic Egypt. Milton.
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Mr. Duke may be mentioned under the double capacity of a poet and a divine. Felton.
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Under this head may come in the several contests and wars betwixt popes and the secular princes. C. Leslie.
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(d) Less specifically, denoting the relation of being subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or the like; as, a bill under discussion.
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Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood,
Under amazement of their hideous change. Milton.
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Coloq. Under arms . (Mil.) (a) Drawn up fully armed and equipped. (b) Enrolled for military service; as, the state has a million men under arms. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Under fire , exposed to an enemy's fire; taking part in a battle or general engagement. -- Coloq. Under foot . See under , n. -- Coloq. Under ground , below the surface of the ground. -- Coloq. Under one's signature , with one's signature or name subscribed; attested or confirmed by one's signature. Cf. the second Note under , prep. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Under sentence , having had one's sentence pronounced. -- Coloq. Under the breath , with low voice; very softly. -- Coloq. Under the lee (Naut.), to the leeward; as, under the lee of the land. -- Coloq. Under the rose . See under , n. -- Coloq. Under water , below the surface of the water. -- Coloq. Under way , or Coloq. Under weigh (Naut.), in a condition to make progress; having started.
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Under (ŭndẽr), 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; to go bankrupt.
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I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. 1 Cor. ix. 27.
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The minstrel fell, but the foeman's chain
Could not bring his proud soul under. Moore.
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☞ 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 underline; to undermine; to underprop.
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Under, 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.
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Coloq. Under covert (Zoöl.), one of the feathers situated beneath the bases of the quills in the wings and tail of a bird. See Illust. under .
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Underact (?), v. t. To perform inefficiently, as a play; to act feebly.
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Underaction (?), n. Subordinate action; a minor action incidental or subsidiary to the main story; an episode.
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The least episodes or underactions . . . are parts necessary or convenient to carry on the main design. Dryden.
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Underactor (?), n. A subordinate actor.
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underage (ŭndẽrĭj), a. Shortage or deficiency in amount; shortfall. [Obs.]
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Under-age (?), a. 1. Not having arrived at adult age; hence, incapable legally of performing certain acts restricted to adults.
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2. Not having arrived at adult age, or at years of discretion; hence, raw; green; immature; boyish; childish. [Obs.]
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I myself have loved a lady, and pursued her with a great deal of under-age protestation. J. Webster.
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Underagent (?), n. A subordinate agent.
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Underaid (?), v. t. To aid clandestinely. [Obs.]
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Under-arm (?), a. (Cricket) 1. Done (as bowling) with the arm not raised above the elbow, that is, not swung far out from the body; underhand. Cf. and .
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2. For use under the arms, specifically in the armpit; as, an underarm deodorant.
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Underback (?), n. (Brewing) A vessel which receives the wort as it flows from the mashing tub.
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Underbear (?), v. t. [AS. underberan. See , and to support.] 1. To support; to endure. [Obs.] Shak.
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2. To line; to guard; to face; as, cloth of gold underborne with blue tinsel. [Obs.] Shak.
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Underbearer (?), n. One who supports or sustains; especially, at a funeral, one of those who bear the corpse, as distinguished from a bearer, or pallbearer, who helps to hold up the pall.
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Underbelly (?), n. 1. The lower ventral part of the abdomen of an animal, especially one that walks on four feet.
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2. The surface of an object closest to the ground, especially of an extended object such as an airplane.
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3. The weak point of an object vulnerable to attack; used especially in the phrase “the soft underbelly”.
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Underbid (?), 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 lower price than.
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Underbind (?), v. t. To bind beneath. Fairfax.
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Underboard (?), adv. Under the board, or table; hence, secretly; unfairly; underhand. See the Note under .
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Underbrace (?), v. t. To brace, fasten, or bind underneath or below. Cowper.
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Underbranch (?), n. 1. A lower branch.
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2. A twig or branchlet. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Underbred (?), a. Not thoroughly bred; ill-bred; as, an underbred fellow. Goldsmith.
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Underbrush (?), n. Shrubs, small trees, and the like, in a wood or forest, growing beneath large trees; undergrowth.
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Underbuilder (?), n. A subordinate or assistant builder.
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An underbuilder in the house of God. Jer. Taylor.
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Underbuilding, n. Same as .
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Underbuy (?), v. t. To buy at less than the real value or worth; to buy cheaper than. [R.] J. Fletcher.
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Undercast (?), v. t. To cast under or beneath.
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Underchamberlain (?), n. A deputy chamberlain of the exchequer.
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Underchanter (?), n. Same as .
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Underchaps (?), n. pl. The lower chaps or jaw. Paley.
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Undercharge (?), v. t. 1. To charge below or under; to charge less than is usual or suitable for; as, to undercharge goods or services.
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2. To put too small a charge into; as, to undercharge a gun.
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Coloq. Undercharged mine (Mil.), a mine whose crater is not as wide at top as it is deep. W. P. Craighill.
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Undercharge (?), n. A charge that is less than is usual or suitable.
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Underclay (?), n. (Geol.) A stratum of clay lying beneath a coal bed, often containing the roots of coal plants, especially the Stigmaria.
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Undercliff (?), n. A subordinate cliff on a shore, consisting of material that has fallen from the higher cliff above.
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Underclothes (?), n. pl. Clothes worn under others, especially those worn next the skin for warmth; underwear.
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Underclothing (?), n. Same as .
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Undercoat (?), n. 1. A coat worn under another; a light coat, as distinguished from an overcoat, or a greatcoat.
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2. A growth of short hair or fur partially concealed by a longer growth; as, a dog's undercoat.
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Underconduct (?), n. A lower conduit; a subterranean conduit. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
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Underconsumption (?), n. (Polit. Econ.) Consumption of less than is produced; consumption of less than the usual amount. F. A. Walker.
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Undercraft (?), n. A sly trick or device; as, an undercraft of authors. [R.] Sterne.
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Undercreep (?), v. i. To creep secretly or privily. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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Undercrest (?), v. t. To support as a crest; to bear. [Obs. & R.] Shak.
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Undercroft (?), 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 ), or one used as a chapel or for any sacred purpose.
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Undercry (?), v. i. To cry aloud. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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Undercurrent (?), n. 1. A current below the surface of water, sometimes flowing in a contrary direction to that on the surface. Totten.
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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.
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All the while there was a busy undercurrent in her. G. Eliot.
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Undercurrent, a. Running beneath the surface; hidden. [R.] “Undercurrent woe.” Tennyson.
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Undercut (?), n. The lower or under side of a sirloin of beef; the fillet.
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Undercut (?), v. t. 1. To cut away, as the side of an object, so as to leave an overhanging portion.
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2. to sell goods or services at a price below that of (the competition or a competitor's price).
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3. to weaken the effectiveness of; to undermine or sabotage (an activity).
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4. (Forestry) To cut a notch in one side of (a tree) so as to control the direction in which the tree falls when it is felled.
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Undercut (?), p. a. Cut away below.
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Underdealing (?), n. Crafty, unfair, or underhand dealing; unfair practice; trickery. Milton.
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Underdelve (?), v. t. To delve under. [Obs.]
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Underdig (?), v. t. To dig under or beneath; to undermine. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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Underditch (?), v. t. To dig an underground ditch or ditches in, so as to drain the surface; to underdrain; as, to underditch a field or a farm.
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Underdo (?), v. i. To do less than is requisite or proper; -- opposed to overdo. Grew.
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Underdo, v. t. To do less thoroughly than is requisite; specifically, to cook insufficiently; as, to underdo the meat; -- opposed to overdo.
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Underdoer (?), n. One who underdoes; a shirk.
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Underdolven (?), obs. p. p. of .
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Underdose (?), n. A dose which is less than required; a small or insufficient dose.
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Underdose (?), v. t. & i. To give an underdose or underdoses to; to practice giving insufficient doses.
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Underdrain (?), n. An underground drain or trench with openings through which the water may percolate from the soil or ground above.
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Underdrain (?), v. t. To drain by forming an underdrain or underdrains in; as, to underdrain land.
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Underdressed (?), a. Not dresses enough.
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Underestimate (?), v. t. To set too low a value on; to estimate below the truth.
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Underestimate (?), n. The act of underestimating; too low an estimate.
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Underfaction (?), n. A subordinate party or faction.
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Underfaculty (?), n. An inferior or subordinate faculty.
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Underfarmer (?), n. An assistant farmer.
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Underfeed (?), v. t. To feed with too little food; to supply with an insufficient quantity of food.
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Underfellow (?), n. An underling; a mean, low fellow. [R.] Sir P. Sidney.
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Underfilling (?), n. The filling below or beneath; the under part of a building. Sir H. Wotton.
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Underfollow (?), v. t. To follow closely or immediately after. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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Underfong (?), v. t. [AS. underfongen, p. p. of underfōn to undertake; under under + fōn to take. See to seize.] 1. To undertake; to take in hand; to receive. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. Rom. of R.
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2. To insnare; to circumvent. [Obs.] Spenser.
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3. To sustain; to support; to guard. [Obs.] Nash.
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Underfoot (?), adv. Under the feet; underneath; below. See Under foot, under , n.
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Underfoot, a. Low; base; abject; trodden down.
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Underfringe (?), n. A lower fringe; a fringe underneath something.
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Broad-faced, with underfringe of russet beard. Tennyson.
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Underfurnish (?), v. t. To supply with less than enough; to furnish insufficiently. Collier.
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Underfurrow (?), v. t. To cover as under a furrow; to plow in; as, to underfurrow seed or manure.
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Under-garment (?), n. A garment worn below another.
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Underget (?), v. t. To get under or beneath; also, to understand. [Obs.] R. of Gloucester.
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Undergird (?), v. t. To bind below; to gird round the bottom.
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They used helps, undergirding the ship. Acts xxvii. 17.
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Underglaze (?), a. Applied under the glaze, that is, before the glaze is put on; fitted to be so applied; -- said of colors in porcelain painting.
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Undergo (?), v. t. [imp. Underwent (?); p. p. Undergone (?; 115); p. pr. & vb. n. Undergoing.] [AS. undergān. See , and .] 1. To go or move below or under. [Obs.]
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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 undergothe operation of amputation; food in the stomach undergoes the process of digestion.
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Certain to undergo like doom. Milton.
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3. To be the bearer of; to possess. [Obs.]
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Their virtues else, be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo. Shak.
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4. To undertake; to engage in; to hazard. [Obs.]
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I have moved already
Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans
To undergo with me an enterprise. Shak.
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5. To be subject or amenable to; to underlie. [Obs.]
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Claudio undergoes my challenge. Shak.
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Undergod (?), n. A lower or inferior god; a subordinate deity; a demigod.
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Undergore (?), v. t. To gore underneath.
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Undergown (?), n. A gown worn under another, or under some other article of dress.
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An undergown and kirtle of pale sea-green silk. Sir W. Scott.
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Undergraduate (?), 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. Contrasted with graduate student.
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Undergraduate, a. Of or pertaining to an undergraduate, or the body of undergraduates.
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Undergraduateship, n. The position or condition of an undergraduate.
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Undergroan (?), v. t. To groan beneath. [Obs.]
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Earth undergroaned their high-raised feet. Chapman.
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Underground (?), n. 1. The place or space beneath the surface of the ground; subterranean space.
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A spirit raised from depth of underground. Shak.
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2. a subway or subway system, especially in the United Kingdom. [chiefly British]
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3. a secret organization opposed to the prevailing government; as, the French underground during the Nazi occupation.
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4. a group or movement holding unorthodox views in an environment where conventional ideas dominate, as in artistic circles.
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Underground insurance. Wildcat insurance.
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Underground, a. 1. Being below the surface of the ground; as, an underground story or apartment.
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2. Done or occurring out of sight; secret. [Colloq.]
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Coloq. Underground railroad or Coloq. Underground railway . See under .
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Underground, adv. Beneath the surface of the earth.
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Undergrove (?), n. A grove of shrubs or low trees under taller ones. Wordsworth.
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Undergrow (?), v. i. To grow to an inferior, or less than the usual, size or height. Wyclif.
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Undergrow, a. Undergrown. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Undergrown (?), a. Of small stature; not grown to a full height or size.
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Undergrowth (?), n. That which grows under trees; specifically, shrubs or small trees growing among large trees. Milton.
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Undergrub (?), v. t. To undermine. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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Underhand (ŭndẽrhănd), a. 1. Secret; clandestine; hence, mean; unfair; fraudulent. Addison.
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2. (Baseball, Cricket, etc.) Done, as pitching, with the hand lower than the shoulder, or, as bowling, with the hand lower than the elbow.
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Underhand (ŭndẽrhănd), adv. 1. By secret means; in a clandestine manner; hence, by fraud; unfairly; dishonorably.
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Such mean revenge, committed underhand. Dryden.
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Baillie Macwheeble provided Janet, underhand, with meal for their maintenance. Sir W. Scott.
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In modern usage, the sense is usually negative.
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2. (Baseball, Cricket, etc.) In an underhand manner; thrown with the hand no higher than the shoulder and the palm turned upward during part of the pitch; -- said of pitching or bowling a ball.
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Underhanded, a. 1. Underhand; clandestine.
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