understudy
noun
- stage performer who learns the lines and blocking or choreography of a regular actor, so as to be their substitute
verb
- understudy
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈʌndɚstʌdi/ / /ˈʌndəstʌdi/
noun
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- Proto-Indo-European *(s)tew- Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewd- Proto-Italic *studēō Latin studeō Latin studiumbor. Old French estudie Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Old French -er Old French estudierbor. Middle English studien English study English understudy From under- + study.
- A performer who understudies; a standby for a study.
“For Wynne-Edwards, the role of the outcasts in the welfare of the group is to wait in the wings as understudies, ready to step into the shoes of any territory holder who dies on the main stage of group reproduction.”
verb
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- Proto-Indo-European *(s)tew- Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewd- Proto-Italic *studēō Latin studeō Latin studiumbor. Old French estudie Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Old French -er Old French estudierbor. Middle English studien English study English understudy From under- + study.
- To study or know a role to such an extent as to be able to replace the normal performer when required.
- To act as an understudy (to someone).
- To act in a similar manner to some known person.
“That lean gentleman had apparently understudied Pharaoh of old and hardened his heart.”