I. bə̇ˈnēth, bē- adverb (or adjective)
Etymology: Middle English benethe, benethen, adverb & preposition, from Old English beneothan, from be- + neothan below; akin to Old Frisian nitha below, Old High German nidana, Old Norse nethan — more at nether
1.
a. : directly under
look at the illustration and read what is beneath
b. : underneath especially in relation to something screening, sheltering, surmounting
an awning with chairs and tables beneath
the sky above and the earth beneath
c. : in a low position (as in relation to something else) : lower down
the mountains and the little towns beneath
2. : lower in rank, dignity, or quality
a man intolerant of those above and merciless to those beneath
3. : on the further side : beyond what intervenes
slashes in the glaze to show the beige pottery beneath — New Yorker
II. preposition
Etymology: Middle English benethe, benethen
1.
a. : unworthy of : unbecoming or lowering to
an occupation beneath his dignity
b. : too low, vile, or wretched for : far below
his words were beneath contempt
2.
a.
(1) : at or to a level lower than
the sun sank beneath the horizon
: further down from
a town located a mile beneath the crest of a hill
(2) : at the foot or base of
a chair beneath a wall
a camp beneath a hill
(3) : immediately under : underneath
the floor echoed beneath his tread
a cellar beneath the first floor
b. : lower than (as in rank, dignity, excellence) : below
he in turn became something of a bully to the men beneath him — Sherwood Anderson
3. : overhung, shaded, or screened by : below
beneath an umbrella
4. : under especially in relation to something that exerts pressure, influence, control
trees bent down beneath their weight of fruit
the Higher Order beneath which men carry on their fantastic mummeries — W.L.Sullivan
5.
a. : concealed by : covered by
wearing a vest beneath his coat
b. : on the other side of : below the surface of : beyond
detected moral truth beneath the veil of antique fable