underly
UK: ʌnˈdəːli | US: ʌnˈdərli
vt. To lie or be situated under something; to form the basis of something.
adj. (Archaic) Lying beneath or below; fundamental.
underly = under<below> + ly<verb-forming suffix>
- under (from Old English under, meaning "beneath, below")
- ly (a verb-forming suffix derived from Old English -līcian, indicating action or state)
Etymology Origin:
The word "underly" originates from Old English, combining under (a preposition/adverb meaning "beneath") with the verb-forming suffix -ly. It originally described physical positioning ("to lie beneath") and later evolved to denote abstract foundational roles ("to form the basis of"). Though now rare as an adjective, its verb form persists in specialized contexts, reflecting its logical progression from literal to figurative meaning.
The principles that underly his theory are still debated today.
A layer of clay underlies the topsoil in this region.
The contract’s terms underly all future negotiations.
(Archaic) The underly rocks were visible after the flood.
Her research seeks to underly the causes of economic inequality.