/ bɪˈniːθ; NAmE / preposition ( formal )
1.
in or to a lower position than sb/sth; under sb/sth :
They found the body buried beneath a pile of leaves.
The boat sank beneath the waves.
2.
not good enough for sb :
He considers such jobs beneath him.
They thought she had married beneath her (= married a man of lower social status) .
► be·neath adverb :
Her careful make-up hid the signs of age beneath.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English binithan , bineothan , from bi ( be , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bij and German bei ) + nithan , neothan below , of Germanic origin; related to nether .