different between underneath vs undergird

English

Etymology

From Middle English undernethe, undernethen, from Old English underneoþan (“underneath”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *underniþer.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?nd??ni?/
• Rhymes: -i??
• (US) IPA^(key): /?nd??ni?/, /?nd??nið/
• Rhymes: -i??, -i?ð

Adverb

underneath (not comparable)

1. Below; in a place beneath.

   (Can we add an example for this sense?)
2. On the underside or lower face.

   (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Translations

Preposition

underneath

1. Under, below, beneath.

   Underneath the water, all was calm.

   We flew underneath the bridge.

   We looked underneath the table.

2. Under the control or power of.

   There was little freedom underneath the jackboot.

Translations

Adjective

underneath (not comparable)

1. Under, lower.

   You can have the underneath bunk.

   • 1990, Stephen King, The Moving Finger

     The mess in the kitchen was one thing. The way the place smelled was another—some sort of chemistry-lab stink on top, some other smell underneath it. He was afraid the underneath smell might be blood.

Translations

Noun

underneath (usually uncountable, plural underneaths)

1. The lower surface or part of something.

   The underneath of the aircraft was painted blue.

   • 1938, Xavier Herbert, Capricornia, Chapter V, p. 64, [3]

     Nawnim yelped, heaved away, struck his head on the underneath of the bed, and rolled into view bawling.
2. A background radio sound track played during a specific announcement or program.
   • 2009, Jay Trachtenberg (radio host), KUT-FM Radio, Austin, Texas, 17 Dec.:

     The underneath is music from the latest album by [...].

Translations

References

• underneath at OneLook Dictionary Search
• underneath in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• unadherent

English

Etymology

From under- +? gird.

Verb

undergird (third-person singular simple present undergirds, present participle undergirding, simple past and past participle undergirded or undergirt)

1. To strengthen, secure, or reinforce by passing a rope, cable, or chain around the underside of an object.
2. (figuratively) To give fundamental support; provide with a sound or secure basis; provide supportive evidence for.
3. To lend moral support to.
4. To secure below or underneath.

Synonyms

• shore up
• fortify
• succour

Antonyms

• undermine

Translations