Word Origin
verb (used with object), un·der·lay, un·der·lain, un·der·ly·ing. to lie under or beneath; be situated under. to be at the basis of; form the foundation of. Grammar to function as the root morpheme or original or basic form of (a derived form): The form “boy” underlies “boyish.” Finance to be primary to another right or security. Show More
Origin of underlie before 900; Middle English underlyen (v.),
Old English underlicgan. See
under- ,
lie2 Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for underlied control ,
inhibit ,
dominate ,
handle ,
decide ,
manage ,
rule ,
curb ,
determine ,
regulate ,
guide ,
discipline ,
shepherd ,
incline ,
subdue ,
dispose ,
direct ,
tame ,
predispose ,
restrain British Dictionary definitions for underlied verb -lies , -lying , -lay or -lain (tr) to lie or be placed under or beneath to be the foundation, cause, or basis of careful planning underlies all our decisions finance to take priority over (another claim, liability, mortgage, etc) a first mortgage underlies a second to be the root or stem from which (a word) is derived "happy" underlies "happiest" Show More
Derived Forms underlier , noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for underlied v. Old English under licgan "to be subordinate to, to submit to;" see under + lie (v.2). Meaning "to lie under or beneath" is attested from c.1600; figurative sense of "to be the basis of" is attested from 1852 (implied in underlying ).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
