BENEATH


Meaning of BENEATH in English

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

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.