\Un"der\, prep. [AS. under, prep. & adv.; akin to OFries.
under, OS. undar, D. onder, G. unter, OHG. untar, Icel.
undir, Sw. & Dan. under, Goth. undar, L. infra below,
inferior lower, Skr. adhas below. [root]201. Cf. {Inferior}.]
1. Below or lower, in place or position, with the idea of
   being covered; lower than; beneath; -- opposed to over;
   as, he stood under a tree; the carriage is under cover; a
   cellar extends under the whole house.
         Fruit put in bottles, and the bottles let down into
         wells under water, will keep long.    --Bacon.
         Be gathered now, ye waters under heaven, Into one
         place.                                --Milton.
2. Hence, in many figurative uses which may be classified as
   follows;
   (a) Denoting relation to some thing or person that is
       superior, weighs upon, oppresses, bows down, governs,
       directs, influences powerfully, or the like, in a
       relation of subjection, subordination, obligation,
       liability, or the like; as, to travel under a heavy
       load; to live under extreme oppression; to have
       fortitude under the evils of life; to have patience
       under pain, or under misfortunes; to behave like a
       Christian under reproaches and injuries; under the
       pains and penalties of the law; the condition under
       which one enters upon an office; under the necessity
       of obeying the laws; under vows of chastity.
   Both Jews and Gentiles . . . are all under sin. --Rom.
                                               iii. 9.
   That led the embattled seraphim to war Under thy conduct.
                                               --Milton.
   Who have their provand Only for bearing burdens, and sore
   blows For sinking under them.               --Shak.
   (b) Denoting relation to something that exceeds in rank or
       degree, in number, size, weight, age, or the like; in
       a relation of the less to the greater, of inferiority,
       or of falling short.
             Three sons he dying left under age. --Spenser.
             Medicines take effect sometimes under, and
             sometimes above, the natural proportion of their
             virtue.                           --Hooker.
             There are several hundred parishes in England
             under twenty pounds a year.       --Swift.
             It was too great an honor for any man under a
             duke.                             --Addison.
Note: Hence, it sometimes means at, with, or for, less than;
      as, he would not sell the horse under sixty dollars.
            Several young men could never leave the pulpit
            under half a dozen conceits.       --Swift.
   (c) Denoting relation to something that comprehends or
       includes, that represents or designates, that
       furnishes a cover, pretext, pretense, or the like; as,
       he betrayed him under the guise of friendship;
       Morpheus is represented under the figure of a boy
       asleep.
             A crew who, under names of old renown . . .
             abused Fanatic Egypt.             --Milton.
             Mr. Duke may be mentioned under the double
             capacity of a poet and a divine.  --Felton.
             Under this head may come in the several contests
             and wars betwixt popes and the secular princes.
                                               --C. Leslie.
   (d) Less specifically, denoting the relation of being
       subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or the like;
       as, a bill under discussion.
             Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood,
             Under amazement of their hideous change.
                                               --Milton.
{Under arms}. (Mil.)
   (a) Drawn up fully armed and equipped.
   (b) Enrolled for military service; as, the state has a
       million men under arms.
{Under canvas}.
   (a) (Naut.) Moved or propelled by sails; -- said of any
       vessel with her sail set, but especially of a steamer
       using her sails only, as distinguished from one under
       steam. Under steam and canvas signifies that a vessel
       is using both means of propulsion.
   (b) (Mil.) Provided with, or sheltered in, tents.
{Under fire}, exposed to an enemy's fire; taking part in a
   battle or general engagement.
{Under foot}. See under {Foot}, n.
{Under ground}, below the surface of the ground.
{Under one's signature}, with one's signature or name
   subscribed; attested or confirmed by one's signature. Cf.
   the second Note under {Over}, prep.
{Under sail}. (Naut.)
   (a) With anchor up, and under the influence of sails;
       moved by sails; in motion.
   (b) With sails set, though the anchor is down.
   (c) Same as {Under canvas}
   (a), above. --Totten.
{Under sentence}, having had one's sentence pronounced.
{Under the breath}, with low voice; very softly.
{Under the lee} (Naut.), to the leeward; as, under the lee of
   the land.
{Under the rose}. See under {Rose}, n.
{Under water}, below the surface of the water.
{Under way}, or {Under weigh} (Naut.), in a condition to make
   progress; having started.

\Un"der\, adv.
In a lower, subject, or subordinate condition; in subjection;
-- used chiefly in a few idiomatic phrases; as, to bring
under, to reduce to subjection; to subdue; to keep under, to
keep in subjection; to control; to go under, to be
unsuccessful; to fail.
      I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. --1
                                               Cor. ix. 27.
      The minstrel fell, but the foeman's chain Could not
      bring his proud soul under.              --Moore.
Note: Under is often used in composition with a verb to
      indicate lowness or inferiority in position or degree,
      in the act named by the verb; as, to underline; to
      undermine; to underprop.

\Un"der\, a.
Lower in position, intensity, rank, or degree; subject;
subordinate; -- generally in composition with a noun, and
written with or without the hyphen; as, an undercurrent;
undertone; underdose; under-garment; underofficer;
undersheriff.
{Under covert} (Zo["o]l.), one of the feathers situated
   beneath the bases of the quills in the wings and tail of a
   bird. See Illust. under {Bird}.