under-

prefix

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- From Middle English under-, from Old English under-, from Proto-West Germanic *undar, from Proto-Germanic *under, from Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér (“below”) and *h₁n̥tér (“inside”). For more, see under.

1. Beneath, under

   “e.g. underground, underneath, underpass”

2. To go from one side to the other; to progress along a path

   “e.g. understand, undergo, underbear, undertake”

3. Less than, beneath in quantity

   “e.g. underadditive, underage, underbound”

4. Deficient, below what is correct, insufficient

   “e.g. underapply, underbill, underawe”

5. Subordinate to

   “e.g. undersecretary, underling, underclass”