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. √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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fruit put in bottles, and the bottles let down into wells under water, will keep long. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be gathered now, ye waters under heaven,
Into one place. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, in many figurative uses which may be classified as follows; -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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Both Jews and Gentiles . . . are all under sin. Rom. iii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

That led the embattled seraphim to war
Under thy conduct. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who have their provand
Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows
For sinking under them. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Three sons he dying left under age. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Medicines take effect sometimes under, and sometimes above, the natural proportion of their virtue. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

There are several hundred parishes in England under twenty pounds a year. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was too great an honor for any man under a duke. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Hence, it sometimes means at, with, or for, less than; as, he would not sell the horse under sixty dollars. [ 1913 Webster ]

Several young men could never leave the pulpit under half a dozen conceits. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

(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. [ 1913 Webster ]

A crew who, under names of old renown . . . abused
Fanatic Egypt. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mr. Duke may be mentioned under the double capacity of a poet and a divine. Felton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Under this head may come in the several contests and wars betwixt popes and the secular princes. C. Leslie. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) Less specifically, denoting the relation of being subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or the like; as, a bill under discussion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood,
Under amazement of their hideous change. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Lower in position, intensity, rank, or degree; subject; subordinate; -- generally in composition with a noun, and written with or without the hyphen; as, an undercurrent; undertone; underdose; under-garment; underofficer; undersheriff. [ 1913 Webster ]

Under covert (Zool.), one of the feathers situated beneath the bases of the quills in the wings and tail of a bird. See Illust. under Bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a lower, subject, or subordinate condition; in subjection; -- used chiefly in a few idiomatic phrases; as, to bring under, to reduce to subjection; to subdue; to keep under, to keep in subjection; to control; to go under, to be unsuccessful; to fail; to go bankrupt. [ 1913 Webster ]

I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. 1 Cor. ix. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

The minstrel fell, but the foeman's chain
Could not bring his proud soul under. Moore. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Under is often used in composition with a verb to indicate lowness or inferiority in position or degree, in the act named by the verb; as, to underline; to undermine; to underprop. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To perform inefficiently, as a play; to act feebly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Subordinate action; a minor action incidental or subsidiary to the main story; an episode. [ 1913 Webster ]

The least episodes or underactions . . . are parts necessary or convenient to carry on the main design. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A subordinate actor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Shortage or deficiency in amount; shortfall. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not having arrived at adult age; hence, incapable legally of performing certain acts restricted to adults. [ PJC ]

2. Not having arrived at adult age, or at years of discretion; hence, raw; green; immature; boyish; childish. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I myself have loved a lady, and pursued her with a great deal of under-age protestation. J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A subordinate agent. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To aid clandestinely. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]