Under
/ˈʌn.dər/noun
In a position directly below or beneath something else.
Did you know?The Old English word for 'under' reflects concepts of being overshadowed, hinting at a connection to the unseen or the subconscious.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*n̥dʰer
“a term denoting a position beneath or lower than something.”
Old Germanic
Old English
under
“beneath, below; associated with the idea of support or foundation.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
undr
“used in contexts relating to being beneath or lower.”
Middle English
Middle English
under
“retained the meaning of below, but also began to indicate inferiority.”
Modern English
English
under
“maintained its meaning of being below in position or rank.”
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