Underhandedly - Understairs

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2. Insufficiently provided with hands or workers; short-handed; sparsely populated; obsolete in this sense, short-handed or understaffed being the preferrred term.
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Norway . . . might defy the world, . . . but it is much underhanded now. Coleridge.
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Underhandedly (ŭndẽrhăndĕdl�), adv. In an underhand manner.
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Underhang (ŭndẽrhăng), v. t. & i. To hang under or down; to suspend. Holland.
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Underhangman (?), n. An assistant or deputy hangman. Shak.
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Underhead (?), n. A blockhead, or stupid person; a dunderhead. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Underheave (?), v. i. To heave or lift from below. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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Underhew (?), v. t. To hew less than is usual or proper; specifically, to hew, as a piece of timber which should be square, in such a manner that it appears to contain a greater number of cubic feet than it really does contain. Haldeman.
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Underhonest (?), a. Not entirely honest. [R.] “We think him overproud and underhonest.” Shak.
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Underhung (?), a. 1. (Carp.) Resting on a track at the bottom, instead of being suspended; -- said of a sliding door. Forney.
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2. Having the lower jaw projecting. T. Hughes.
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Underjaw (?), n. The lower jaw. Paley.
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Underjoin (?), v. t. To join below or beneath; to subjoin. Wyclif.
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Underkeep (?), v. t. To keep under, or in subjection; to suppress. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Underkeeper (?), n. A subordinate keeper or guardian. Gray.
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Underkind (?), n. An inferior kind. Dryden.
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Underkingdom (?), n. A subordinate or dependent kingdom. Tennyson.
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Underlaborer (?), n. An assistant or subordinate laborer. Locke.
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Underlaid (?), a. Laid or placed underneath; also, having something laid or lying underneath.
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Underlay (?), v. t. [AS. underlecgan. See , and , v. t.] 1. To lay beneath; to put under.
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2. To raise or support by something laid under; as, to underlay a cut, plate, or the like, for printing. See , n., 2.
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3. To put a tap on (a shoe). [Prov. Eng.]
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Underlay, v. i. (Mining) To incline from the vertical; to hade; -- said of a vein, fault, or lode.
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Underlay (?), n. 1. (Mining) The inclination of a vein, fault, or lode from the vertical; a hade; -- called also underlie.
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2. (Print.) A thickness of paper, pasteboard, or the like, placed under a cut, or stereotype plate, or under type, in the form, to bring it, or any part of it, to the proper height; also, something placed back of a part of the tympan, so as to secure the right impression.
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Underlayer (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, underlays or is underlaid; a lower layer.
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2. (Mining) A perpendicular shaft sunk to cut the lode at any required depth. Weale.
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Underleaf (?), n. A prolific sort of apple, good for cider. [Obs.] Mortimer.
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Underlease (?), n. (Law) A lease granted by a tenant or lessee; especially, a lease granted by one who is himself a lessee for years, for any fewer or less number of years than he himself holds; a sublease. Burrill.
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Underlet (?), v. t. 1. To let below the value.
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All my farms were underlet. Smollett.
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2. To let or lease at second hand; to sublet.
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Underletter (?), n. A tenant or lessee who grants a lease to another.
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Underlie (?), v. t. [AS. underlicgan. See , and to be prostrate.] 1. To lie under; to rest beneath; to be situated under; as, a stratum of clay underlies the surface gravel.
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2. To be at the basis of; to form the foundation of; to support; as, a doctrine underlying a theory.
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3. To be subject or amenable to. [R.]
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The knight of Ivanhoe . . . underlies the challenge of Brian der Bois Guilbert. Sir W. Scott.
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Underlie, v. i. To lie below or under.
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Underlie (?), n. See , n., 1.
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Underline (?), v. t. 1. To mark a line below, as words; to underscore.
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2. To influence secretly. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
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3. Emphasize or call attention to; highlight; as, Long waits at the emergency room underline the need for a larger hospital. .
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Underling (?), n. [Under + -ling.] 1. An inferior person or agent; a subordinate; a low-ranking employee. Milton.
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2. Hence, A mean, sorry fellow. Milton.
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The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Shak.
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Underlip (?), n. The lower lip.
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Underload (?), v. t. to load (a truck, etc.) with less than its full capacity; -- in certain circumstances, an inefficient use of resources.
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Underload starter. (Elec.) A motor starter provided with an underload switch.
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Underload switch. (Elec.) A switch which opens a circuit when the current falls below a certain predetermined value, used to protect certain types of motors from running at excessive speed upon decrease of load.
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underlock (?), n. A lock of wool hanging under the belly of a sheep.
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underlooker (?), n. (Mining) A person who inspects a mine daily; -- called also underviewer.
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underlying (?), a. 1. Lying under or beneath; as, the underlying strata of a locality.
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2. Hence: Fundamental; basic; as, underlying principles; underlying causes.
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3. Implicit; not immediately obvious; requiring careful scrutiny to discover; as, the underlying sarcasm in her seemingly innocuous remark..
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Undermanned (?), a. (Naut.) Insufficiently furnished with men; short-handed.
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Undermasted (?), a. (Naut.) Having masts smaller than the usual dimension; -- said of vessels. Totten.
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Undermaster (?), n. A master subordinate to the principal master; an assistant master.
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Undermatch (?), n. One who is not a match for another. Fuller.
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Undermeal (?), n. [AS. under under + m�l part or portion; cf. AS. underm�l midday. See , a part, and cf. .] 1. The inferior, or after, part of the day; the afternoon. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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In undermeals and in mornings. Chaucer.
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2. Hence, something occurring or done in the afternoon; esp., an afternoon meal; supper; also, an afternoon nap; a siesta. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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Another great supper, or undermeal, was made ready for them, coming home from ditching and plowing. Withals (1608).
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I think I am furnished with Cattern [Catharine] pears for one undermeal. B. Jonson.
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In a narrower limit than the forty years' undermeal of the seven sleepers. Nash.
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Undermine (?), v. t. 1. To excavate the earth beneath, or the part of, especially for the purpose of causing to fall or be overthrown; to form a mine under; to sap; as, to undermine a wall.
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A vast rock undermined from one end to the other, and a highway running through it. Addison.
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2. Fig.: To remove the foundation or support of by clandestine means; to ruin in an underhand way; as, to undermine reputation; to undermine the constitution of the state.
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He should be warned who are like to undermine him. Locke.
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Underminer (?), n. One who undermines.
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Underminister (?), v. t. To serve, or minister to, in a subordinate relation. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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Underministry (?), n. A subordinate or inferior ministry. Jer. Taylor.
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Undermirth (?), n. Suppressed or concealed mirth. [Obs.] The Coronation.
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Undermoneyed (?), a. Bribed. [R.] Fuller.
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Undermost (?), a. [From ; cf. .] Lowest, as in place, rank, or condition. Addison.
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Undern (?), n. [AS. undern; akin to OS. undorn, OHG. untarn, untorn, Icel. undorn mid afternoon, mid forenoon, Goth. undaúrnimats the midday meal. Cf. , .] The time between; the time between sunrise and noon; specifically, the third hour of the day, or nine o'clock in the morning, according to ancient reckoning; hence, mealtime, because formerly the principal meal was eaten at that hour; also, later, the afternoon; the time between dinner and supper. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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Betwixt undern and noon was the field all won. R. of Brunne.
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In a bed of worts still he lay
Till it was past undern of the day. Chaucer.
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Underneath (?), adv. [OE. undirnepe. See , and .] Beneath; below; in a lower place; under; as, a channel underneath the soil.
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Or sullen mole, that runneth underneath. Milton.
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Underneath, prep. Under; beneath; below.
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Underneath this stone lie
As much beauty as could die. B. Jonson.
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Underniceness (?), n. A want of niceness; indelicacy; impropriety.
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Undernime (?), v. t. [imp. Undernom (?).] [OE. undernimen. See , and .] 1. To receive; to perceive. [Obs.]
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He the savor undernom
Which that the roses and the lilies cast. Chaucer.
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2. To reprove; to reprehend. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
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Underofficer (?), n. A subordinate officer.
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Underpart (?), n. A subordinate part.
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It should be lightened with underparts of mirth. Dryden.
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Underpay (?), v. t. To pay inadequately.
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Underpeep (?), v. t. To peep under. “The flame . . . would underpeep her lids.” [R.] Shak.
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Underpeer (?), v. t. To peer under. [R.]
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Underpeopled (?), a. Not fully peopled.
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Underpight (?), imp. of .
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Underpin (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Underpinned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Underpinning.] 1. To lay stones, masonry, etc., under, as the sills of a building, on which it is to rest.
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2. To support by some solid foundation; to place something underneath for support.
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Underpinning (?), n. 1. The act of one who underpins; the act of supporting by stones, masonry, or the like.
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2. (Arch.) (a) That by which a building is underpinned; the material and construction used for support, introduced beneath a wall already constructed. (b) The foundation, esp. of a frame house. [Local, U. S.]
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Underpitch (?), v. t. [imp. Underpight.] [OE. underpicchen. See , and to throw, fix.] To fill underneath; to stuff. [Obs.]
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He drank and well his girdle underpight. Chaucer.
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Underplant (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Underplanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Underplanting.] To plant under; specif. (Forestry), to plant (young trees) under an existing stand.
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Underplay (?), v. i. 1. To play in a subordinate, or in an inferior manner; to underact a part.
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2. (Card Playing) To play a low card when holding a high one, in the hope of a future advantage.
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Underplay (?), n. (Card Playing) The act of underplaying.
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Underplot (?), n. 1. A series of events in a play, proceeding collaterally with the main story, and subservient to it. Dryden.
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2. A clandestine scheme; a trick. Addison.
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Underpoise (?), v. t. To weigh, estimate, or rate below desert; to undervalue. [R.] Marston.
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Underpossessor (?), n. One who possesses or holds anything subject to the superior of another. Jer. Taylor.
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Underpraise (?), v. t. To praise below desert.
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Underprize (?), v. t. To undervalue; to underestimate. Shak.
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Underproduction (?), n. (Polit. Econ.) The production of less than is demanded or of less than the usual supply. F. A. Walker.
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Underproof (?), a. Containing less alcohol than proof spirit. See Proof spirit, under .
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Underprop (?), v. t. To prop from beneath; to put a prop under; to support; to uphold.
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Underprop the head that bears the crown. Fenton.
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Underproportioned (?), a. Of inadequate or inferior proportions; small; poor.
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Scanty and underproportioned returns of civility. Collier.
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Underpropper (?), n. One who, or that which, underprops or supports.
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Underpull (?), v. i. To exert one's influence secretly. [Obs.] Ld. North.
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Underpuller (?), n. One who underpulls. [Obs.]
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Underput (?), v. t. To put or send under. [Obs.]
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Underrate (?), v. t. To rate too low; to rate below the value; to undervalue. Burke.
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Underrate (?), n. A price less than the value; as, to sell a thing at an underrate. Cowley.
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Underreckon (?), v. t. To reckon below what is right or proper; to underrate. Bp. Hall.
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Underrun (?), v. t. To run or pass under; especially (Naut.), to pass along and under, as a cable, for the purpose of taking it in, or of examining it.
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☞ The cable passes over the bows and stern of the boat used, while the men haul the boat along by pulling upon the cable. Totten.
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Coloq. To underrun a hose (Naut.), to lift it up at one end, then walk along shifting one hand after another so that the water will run out. -- Coloq. To underrun a tackle (Naut.), to separate its parts and put them in order.
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Undersail (?), v. i. To sail alongshore. [Obs.]
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Undersailed (?), a. Inadequately equipped with sails. [Obs.]
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Undersaturated (?), a. Not fully saturated; imperfectly saturated.
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Undersay (?), v. t. To say by way of derogation or contradiction. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Underscore (?), v. t. To draw a mark or line under; to underline. J. Tucker.
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Undersecretary (?), n. A secretary who is subordinate to the chief secretary; an assistant secretary; as, an undersecretary of the Treasury.
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Undersell (?), v. t. To sell the same articles at a lower price than; to sell cheaper than.
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Underservant (?), n. An inferior servant.
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Underset (?), v. t. To prop or support. Bacon.
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Underset (?), n. (Naut.) Undercurrent.
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Undersetter (?), n. One who, or that which, undersets or supports; a prop; a support; a pedestal.
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Undersetting (?), n. Something set or built under as a support; a pedestal. Sir H. Wotton.
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Undershapen (?), a. Under the usual shape or size; small; dwarfish. [Poetic]
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His dwarf, a vicious undershapen thing. Tennyson.
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Undersheriff (?), n. A sheriff's deputy.
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Undersheriffry (?), n. Undershrievalty. [Obs.]
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Undershirt (?), n. A shirt worn next the skin, under another shirt; -- called also undervest.
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Undershoot (?), v. t. To shoot short of (a mark).
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Undershot (?), a. 1. (Zoöl.) Having the lower incisor teeth projecting beyond the upper ones, as in the bulldog.
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2. Moved by water passing beneath; -- said of a water wheel, and opposed to overshot; as, an undershot wheel.
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Undershrievalty (?), n. The office or position of an undersheriff.
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Undershrieve (?), n. (Bot.) A low shrub; a woody plant of low stature.
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Undershrub, a. Partly shrublike.
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Undershut (?), a. Closed from beneath.
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Coloq. Undershut valve (Mach.), a valve which shuts by being lifted against a seat facing downward. Knight.
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Underside (?), n. The lower or lowest side of anything. Paley.
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Undersign (?), v. t. To write one's name at the foot or end of, as a letter or any legal instrument.
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Coloq. The undersigned , the person whose name is signed, or the persons whose names are signed, at the end of a document; the subscriber or subscribers.
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Undersized (?), a. Of a size less than is common.
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Underskinker (?), n. Undertapster. [Obs.]
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Underskirt (?), n. A petticoat; the foundation skirt of a draped dress.
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Undersky (?), n. The lower region of the sky.
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Floating about the undersky. Tennyson.
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Undersleeve (?), n. A sleeve of an under-garment; a sleeve worn under another,
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{ Underslung (?), Underhung (?) }, a. Of an automobile body, suspended from the springs in such a manner that the frame of the chassis is below the axles, the object being to lower the center of gravity of the car.
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Undersoil (?), n. The soil beneath the surface; understratum; subsoil.
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Undersold (?), p. p. of .
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Undersong (?), n. 1. The burden of a song; the chorus; the refrain. Dryden.
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2. Accompanying strain; subordinate and underlying meaning; accompaniment; undertone.
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In the very [poetry] there often an undersong of sense which none beside the poetic mind . . . can comprehend. Landor.
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Undersparred (?), a. (Naut.) Having spars smaller than the usual dimension; -- said of vessels.
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Underspend (?), v. t. To spend less than.
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Undersphere (?), n. 1. A sphere which is smaller than, and in its movements subject to, another; a satellite.
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2. An inferior sphere, or field of action.
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Underspore (?), v. t. To raise with a spar, or piece of wood, used as a lever. [Obs.]
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Give me a staff that I may underspore. Chaucer.
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Understair (?), a. Of or pertaining to the kitchen, or the servants' quarters; hence, subordinate; menial. [Obs.]
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Understairs (?), n. The basement or cellar.
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