underlying [uhn -der-lahy-ing]
Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for underlying on Thesaurus.com lying or situated beneath, as a substratum. fundamental; basic: the underlying cause of their discontent. implicit; discoverable only by close scrutiny or analysis: an underlying seriousness in his witticisms. (of a claim, mortgage, etc.) taking precedence; anterior; prior. Linguistics belonging to an earlier stage in the transformational derivation of a sentence or other structure; belonging to the deep structure. Show More
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 underlying hidden ,
elemental ,
basic ,
prime ,
veiled ,
bottom ,
concealed ,
lurking ,
root ,
basal ,
cardinal ,
critical ,
crucial ,
elementary ,
essential ,
indispensable ,
intrinsic ,
necessary ,
nitty-gritty ,
nub Examples from the Web for underlying Contemporary Examples of underlying But there is an underlying feeling that the worst is yet to come.
Political tensions are underlying every move in Nigeria, where, in February, the next presidential candidates will be nominated.
Some were elderly with underlying conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
Underlying all of this legal maneuvering is the social fact that marriages are hard to undo.
The underlying economic factors that cause deficits to shrink often create circumstances that push them to shrink even faster.
Historical Examples of underlying It is plain (suggested Socrates), they do not know the underlying meaning.
The underlying causes for the conduct, life and end of Apicius have not been told.
Sanitation, not the word, but the underlying idea, was taught by precept and example.
An underlying tendency can be discerned in well-organized knowledge.
Yet underlying all this there ran a vein of good cheer, of hopefulness.
British Dictionary definitions for underlying concealed but detectable underlying guilt fundamental; basic lying under finance (of a claim, liability, etc) taking precedence; prior Show More
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
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Word Origin and History for underlying 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 ).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
