under: [OE] Under originated as a comparative form. It has been traced back to a prehistoric Indo-European *ndhero-, which meant ‘lower’, and is also the ultimate source of English inferior [15]. This passed into Germanic as *unther-, which has evolved into German unter, Dutch onder, and Swedish, Danish, and English under. => inferior
under (prep., adv.)
Old English under (prep.) "beneath, among, before, in the presence of, in subjection to, under the rule of, by means of," also, as an adverb, "beneath, below, underneath," expressing position with reference to that which is above, from Proto-Germanic *under- (cognates: Old Frisian under, Dutch onder, Old High German untar, German unter, Old Norse undir, Gothic undar), from PIE *ndher- "under" (cognates: Sanskrit adhah "below;" Avestan athara- "lower;" Latin infernus "lower," infra "below").
Productive as a prefix in Old English, as in German and Scandinavian (often forming words modeled on Latin ones in sub-). Notion of "inferior in rank, position, etc." was present in Old English. With reference to standards, "less than in age, price, value," etc., late 14c. As an adjective, "lower in position; lower in rank or degree" from 13c. Also used in Old English as a preposition meaning "between, among," as still in under these circumstances, etc. (though this may be an entirely separate root; see understand).
Under the weather "indisposed" is from 1810. Under the table is from 1921 in the sense of "very drunk," 1940s in sense of "illegal." To get something under (one's) belt is from 1954; to keep something under (one's) hat "secret" is from 1885; to have something under (one's) nose "in plain sight" is from 1540s; to speak under (one's) breath "in a low voice" is attested from 1832. To be under (someone's) thumb "entirely controlled" (by that person) is recorded from 1754.
雙語例句
1. They found a labyrinth of tunnels under the ground.
他們發現了一處迷宮似的地道。
來自柯林斯例句
2. All colour fades— especially under the impact of direct sunlight.
所有顏色都會褪色——尤其是在陽光直射下。
來自柯林斯例句
3. There is a wide veranda under the overhang of the roof.
懸吊的屋頂下是一條寬闊的游廊。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Under the newspaper, atop a sheet of paper, lay an envelope.
在報紙下面的一張紙上放著一個信封。
來自柯林斯例句
5. Several proposals are under consideration by the state assembly.