From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Under \Un"der\ ([u^]n"d[~e]r), prep. [AS. under, prep. & adv.;
akin to OFries. under, OS. undar, D. onder, G. unter, OHG.
untar, Icel. undir, Sw. & Dan. under, Goth. undar, L. infra
below, inferior lower, Skr. adhas below. [root]201. Cf.
{Inferior}.]
1. Below or lower, in place or position, with the idea of
being covered; lower than; beneath; -- opposed to {over};
as, he stood under a tree; the carriage is under cover; a
cellar extends under the whole house.
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Fruit put in bottles, and the bottles let down into
wells under water, will keep long. --Bacon.
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Be gathered now, ye waters under heaven,
Into one place. --Milton.
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2. Hence, in many figurative uses which may be classified as
follows;
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(a) Denoting relation to some thing or person that is
superior, weighs upon, oppresses, bows down, governs,
directs, influences powerfully, or the like, in a
relation of subjection, subordination, obligation,
liability, or the like; as, to travel under a heavy
load; to live under extreme oppression; 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; under the
pains and penalties of the law; the condition under
which one enters upon an office; under the necessity
of obeying the laws; under vows of chastity.
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Both Jews and Gentiles . . . are all under sin.
--Rom. iii. 9.
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That led the embattled seraphim to war
Under thy conduct. --Milton.
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Who have their provand
Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows
For sinking under them. --Shak.
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(b) Denoting relation to something that exceeds in rank or
degree, in number, size, weight, age, or the like; in
a relation of the less to the greater, of inferiority,
or of falling short.
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Three sons he dying left under age. --Spenser.
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Medicines take effect sometimes under, and
sometimes above, the natural proportion of their
virtue. --Hooker.
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There are several hundred parishes in England
under twenty pounds a year. --Swift.
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It was too great an honor for any man under a
duke. --Addison.
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Note: Hence, it sometimes means at, with, or for, less than;
as, he would not sell the horse under sixty dollars.
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Several young men could never leave the pulpit
under half a dozen conceits. --Swift.
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(c) Denoting relation to something that comprehends or
includes, that represents or designates, that
furnishes a cover, pretext, pretense, or the like; as,
he betrayed him under the guise of friendship;
Morpheus is represented under the figure of a boy
asleep.
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A crew who, under names of old renown . . .
abused
Fanatic Egypt. --Milton.
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Mr. Duke may be mentioned under the double
capacity of a poet and a divine. --Felton.
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Under this head may come in the several contests
and wars betwixt popes and the secular princes.
--C. Leslie.
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(d) Less specifically, denoting the relation of being
subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or the like;
as, a bill under discussion.
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Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood,
Under amazement of their hideous change.
--Milton.
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{Under arms}. (Mil.)
(a) Drawn up fully armed and equipped.
(b) Enrolled for military service; as, the state has a
million men under arms.
{Under canvas}.
(a) (Naut.) Moved or propelled by sails; -- said of any
vessel with her sail set, but especially of a steamer
using her sails only, as distinguished from one under
steam. Under steam and canvas signifies that a vessel
is using both means of propulsion.
(b) (Mil.) Provided with, or sheltered in, tents.
{Under fire}, exposed to an enemy's fire; taking part in a
battle or general engagement.
{Under foot}. See under {Foot}, n.
{Under ground}, below the surface of the ground.
{Under one's signature}, with one's signature or name
subscribed; attested or confirmed by one's signature. Cf.
the second Note under {Over}, prep.
{Under sail}. (Naut.)
(a) With anchor up, and under the influence of sails;
moved by sails; in motion.
(b) With sails set, though the anchor is down.
(c) Same as {Under canvas}
(a), above. --Totten.
{Under sentence}, having had one's sentence pronounced.
{Under the breath}, {Under one's breath}, with low voice;
very softly.
{Under the lee} (Naut.), to the leeward; as, under the lee of
the land.
{Under the gun}. Under psychological pressure, such as the
need to meet a pressing deadline; feeling pressured
{Under water}, below the surface of the water.
{Under way}, or {Under weigh} (Naut.), in a condition to make
progress; having started.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
under fire
adj 1: subjected to enemy attack or censure; "an official under
fire for mismanagement" [syn: {under attack(p)}, {under
fire(p)}]
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