underprop
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of underprop
Example Sentences
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An acquaintance of Lowell’s bemoaned the habit Lowell had of “jumping at some general idea or theorem,” after which he “selects and bends facts to underprop that generalization.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2025
And so the food is taken to underprop The tottering joints, and by its interfusion To re-create their powers, and there stop up The longing, open-mouthed through limbs and veins, For eating.
From On the Nature of Things by Leonard, William Ellery
Cavendish goes on to observe that Sir Walter was in wonderful declination, yet laboured to underprop himself by my Lord Treasurer and his friends.
From Sir Walter Ralegh A Biography by Stebbing, W. (William)
But, I pray, doth the word underprop or approve the use of anything indifferent, if it be not used according to the foresaid rules, and, by consequence, conveniently and profitably?
From The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) by Gillespie, George
What penny hath Rome borne, What men provided, what munition sent, To underprop this action?
From King John by Shakespeare, William
Second, we were underpropped by more than an inch.
From Time Magazine Archive
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Trees newly planted must be supported, underpropped, strengthened and defended against all tempests, mischiefs, injuries, and calamities.
From Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 3 by Motteux, Peter Anthony
Nor indeed can any party be so much strengthened and underpropped, as it will be weakened and undermined by such courses.
From Sermons on Evil-Speaking by Barrow, Isaac
For surely the conscience of this evill ground whereupon they have either built, or underpropped their tyranny, causes men, as well metus as spes in longum projicere, which sets them a work on further mischiefe.
From Machiavelli, Volume I by Dacres, Edward
The bear having seized the handle, was shaking it as well as Zbyszko, and notwithstanding the pain caused by every movement of the points imbedded in his breast, be would not let it be "underpropped."
From The Knights of the Cross or, Krzyzacy by Binion, Samuel A.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.