English

Prefix

under-

1. Under (in any sense): insufficient, insufficiently, below what is correct; subordinate to; beneath or behind.

Usage notes

• In many common cases, this prefix is attached directly to a word. When forming new words, however, it is typically hyphenated until the word becomes common.

Derived terms

Translations

Norwegian Bokmål

Prefix

under-

1. under-
2. sub-

Related terms

• under

References

• “under-” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Prefix

under-

1. under-
2. sub-

Related terms

• under

References

Old English

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *under, from Proto-Indo-European *nter- ‎(“between, among”), akin to Old English under "between, among, in the presence of", Old High German untar "between, among", Latin inter "between, among". More at inter-.

Prefix

under-

1. between, among

   understandan "to understand" (originally "to stand between", "be near to both sides")

   underscēotan ‎(“to intercept”)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *under, from Proto-Indo-European *ndhero- ‎(“lower”), akin to Old English under ‎(“under, beneath”), Old High German untar ‎(“under”), Latin infra ‎(“below, beneath”).

Prefix

under-

1. beneath
2. subordinate to

   underling ‎(“underling, subordinate”)