Emily Dickinson Lexicon

UN'DER, prep. [Goth. undar; Sax. under; D. onder; G. unter; probably compounded of on and nether; on the nether side.]

1. Beneath; below; so as to have something over or above. He stood under a tree; the carriage is under cover. We may see things under water; we have a cellar under the whole house.
2. In a state of pupilage or subjection to; as, a youth under a tutor; a ward under a guardian; colonies under the British government. I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. Matth. viii.
3. In a less degree than. The effect of medicine is sometimes under and sometimes above or over its natural strength. Hooker.
4. For less than. He would not sell the horse under forty pounds.
5. Less than; below. There are parishes in England under forty pounds a year.
6. With the pretense of; with the cover or pretext of. He does this under the name of love. This argument is not to be evaded under some plausible distinction.
7. With less than. Several young men could never leave the pulpit under half a dozen conceits. Swift.
8. In a degree, state or rank inferior to. It was too great an honor for any man under a duke. Addison.
9. In a state of being loaded; in a state of bearing or being burdened; as, to travel under a heavy load; to live under extreme oppression.
10. In a state of oppression or subjection to, the state in which a person is considered as bearing or having any thing laid upon him; as, to have fortitude under the evils of life; to have patience under pain, or under misfortunes; to behave like a Christian under reproaches and injuries.
11. In a state of liability or obligation. No man shall trespass but under the pains and penalties of the law. Attend to the condition under which you enter upon your office. We are under the necessity of obeying the laws. Nuns are under vows of chastity. We all lie under the curse of the law, until redeemed by Christ.
12. In the state of bearing and being known by; as, men trading under the firm of Wright & Co.
13. In the state of; in the enjoyment or possession of. We live under the Gospel dispensation.
14. During the time of. The American revolution commenced under the administration of lord North.
15. Not having reached or arrived to; below. He left three sons under age.
16. Represented by; in the form of. Morpheus is represented under the figure of a boy asleep. [But morph, in Ethiopic, signifies cessation, rest.]
17. In the state of protection or defense. Under favor of the prince, our author was promoted. The enemy landed under cover of their batteries.
18. As bearing a particular character. The duke may be mentioned under the double capacity of a poet and a divine. Felton.
19. Being contained or comprehended in. Under this head may be mentioned the contests between the popes and the secular princes. Lesley.
20. Attested by; signed by. Here is a deed under his hand and seal. He has left us evidence under his own hand. Locke.
21. In a state of being handled, treated or discussed, or of being the subject of. The bill is now under discussion. We shall have the subject under consideration next week.
22. In subordination to. Under God, this is our only safety.
23. In subjection or bondage to; ruled or influenced by; in a moral sense; within the dominion of. They are all under sin. Rom. iii. Under a signature, bearing, as a name or title. Under way, in seamen's language, moving; in a condition to make progress. To keep under, to hold in subjection or control; to restrain. I keep under my body. 1 Cor. ix.

UN-DER-AC'TION, n.

Subordinate action; action not essential to the main story. The least episodes or underactions—are parts necessary to the main design. Dryden.

UN-DER-A'GENT, n.

A subordinate agent. South.

UN-DE-RANG'ED, a.

Not deranged.

UN-DER-BEAR', v.t.

1. To support; to endure. Shak.
2. To line; to guard; as, cloth of gold underborne with blue tinsel. [Obs.] Shak.

UN-DER-BEAR'ER, n.

In funerals, one who sustains the corpse.

UN-DER-BID', v.t.

To bid or offer less than another; as in auctions, when a contract or service is set up to the lowest bidder.

UN-DER-BID'DING, ppr.

Bidding less than another.

UN-DER-BORNE', pp.

Supported.

UN-DER-BOUGHT', pp.

Bought at less than a thing is worth.

UN'DER-BRED, a.

Of inferior breeding or manners. Observer.

UN'DER-BRUSH, n.

Shrubs and small trees in a wood or forest, growing under large trees.

UN-DER-BUY', v.t.

To buy at less than a thing is worth. [Not used.] Beaum.

UN-DER-CHAM'BER-LAIN, n.

A deputy chamberlain of the exchequer.

UN'DER-CLERK, n.

A clerk subordinate to the principal clerk.

UN'DER-CROFT, n.

A vault under the choir or chancel of a church; also, a vault or secret walk under ground. Bullokar.

UN'DER-CUR-RENT, n.

A current below the surface of the water. Mar. Dict.

UN-DER-DITCH', v.t.

To form a deep ditch or trench to drain the surface of land.

UN-DER-DO', v.i.

1. To act below one's abilities. B. Jonson.
2. To do less than is requisite. Grew.

UN-DER-DONE', pp.

Done less than is requisite.

UN'DER-DOSE, n.

A quantity less than a dose.

UN-DER-DOSE', v.i.

To take small doses. Cheyne.

UN'DER-DRAIN, n.

A drain or trench below the surface of the ground.

UN-DER-DRAIN', v.t.

To drain by cutting a deep channel below the surface.

UN-DER-DRAIN'ED, pp.

Drained by cutting a deep channel below the surface.