438 
U N D 
U N D 
In underprizing it; so far this shadow 
Doth limp behind the substance. Shakspeare. 
To UNDERPRO'P, v. a. To support; to sustain. 
UNDERPROPO'RTIONED, adj. Having too little 
proportion. 
UNDERPU'LLER, s. Inferiour or subordinate puller. 
—The mystery of seconds and thirds is such a master-piece, 
that no description can reach. These underpullers in des¬ 
truction are such implicit mortals as are not to be matched. 
Collier. 
To UNDERRATE, v. a. To rate too low; to under¬ 
value. 
UNDERRATE, s. A price less than is usual. 
The useless brute is from Newmarket brought, 
And at an underrate in Smithfield bought, 
To turn a mill. Dryden. 
To UNDERSA'Y, v. n. To say by way of derogation 
or contradiction. Obsolete. 
They say, they con to heaven the highway ; 
But by my soule I dare undersay, 
They never set foot in that same troad, 
But balke their right way, and strayen abroad. Spenser. 
To UNDERSCO'RE, v. a. To mark under.—Cranmer 
underscored several principal passages [in the book] with 
red ink. Dean Tucker. 
UNDERSE'CRETARY, s. An inferior or subordinate 
secretary.—The Jews have a tradition, that Elias sits in 
heaven, and keeps a register of all men’s actions, good or 
bad. He hath his undersecretaries for the several nations, 
that take minutes of all that passes. Burnet. 
To UNDERSE'LL, v. a. To defeat, by selling for less; 
to sell cheaper than another.—Their stock being rated at six 
in the hundred, they may, with great gain, undersell us, 
our stock being rated at ten. Child. 
UNDERSE'RVANT, s. A servant of the lower class. 
—Besides the nerves, the bones, as underservants, with the 
muscles, are employed to raise him up. Grew. 
To UNDERSET, v. a. To prop; to support.—The 
merchant-adventurers, being a strong company, and well 
underset with rich men, and good order, held out bravely. 
Bacon. 
UNDERSE'TTER, s. Prop ; pedestal; support.—The 
four corners thereof had undersetters. 1 Kings. 
UNDERSETTING, s. Lower part; pedestal.—Their 
undersettings, or pedestals, are, in height, a third part of 
the column. Wotton. 
UNDERSHE'RIFF, s. The deputy of the sheriff. 
Since ’tis my doom, love’s undershrieve. 
Why this reprieve ? 
Why doth my she — advowson fly ? C/eaveland. 
UNDERSHE'RIFFRY, s. The business or office of an 
undersheriff. —The cardinals of Rome call all temporal 
business of wars and embassages, shirreria, which is under- 
shcrifries; as if they were but matters for undersheriffs 
and catchpoles; though many times those undersherifries 
do more good than their high speculations. Bacon. 
UNDERSHOT, part. adj. Moved by water passing 
under it.—The imprisoned water payeth the ransom of 
driving an undershot wheel for his enlargement. Carew. 
UNDERSKIDDAW, a township of England, in Cum¬ 
berland ; 3 miles from Keswick. 
U'NDERSONG, s. Chorus; burthen of a song. 
The challenge to Damsetas shall belong; 
Menalcas shall sustain his undersong ; 
Each in his turn your tuneful numbers bring. Dryden. 
To UNDERSTA'ND, v. a. pret. and part. pass, under¬ 
stood ; formerly understanded, but now obsolete: “ a 
tongue not understanded of the people.” Art. of Rel, 
“ That they may be understanded of the people.” Art. 
[Sax. unbepptanban.] To conceive with adequate ideas; 
to have full knowledge of; to comprehend ; to know. 
I nam’d them as they pass’d, and understood 
Their nature, with such knowledge God endu’d 
My sudden apprehension. Milton. 
To know the meaning of; to be able to interpret —The 
Ulysses of Ovid upbraids his ignorance, that he understood 
not the shield for which he pleaded. Dryden. —To suppose 
to mean.—The most learned interpreters understood the 
words of sin, and not of Abel. Locke. —To know by 
experience. 
Love unhbidinous reigned, nor jealousy 
Was understood, the injur'd lover’s hell. Milton. 
To know by instinct. 
Amorous intent, well understood. 
Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire. Milton. 
To interpret at least mentally; to conceive with respect 
to meaning. 
The truth. 
Left only in those written records pure. 
Though not but by the spirit understood. Milton. 
To know another’s meaning. 
Each to other calls 
Not understood, till hoarse, and all in rage 
As mock’d they storm. Milton. 
To hold in opinion with conviction. 
For well I understand in the prime end 
Of nature her the inferior. Milton. 
To mean without expressing. 
War then, war 
Open or understood, must be resolv’d. Milton. 
To know what is not expressed. 
I bring them to receive 
From thee their names, and pay thee fealty 
With low subjection ; understand the same 
Of fish, within their watery residence. 
Not hither summon’d. Milton. 
To UNDERSTA'ND, v. n. To have the use of intel¬ 
lectual faculties; to be an intelligent or conscious being.— 
I have given thee a wise and understanding heart. Chro¬ 
nicles. —To be informed by another.—I understood of the 
evil Eliashib did. Neh. —Not to be ignorant; to have 
learned. 
I understood not that a grateful mind 
By owing owes not, but still pays, at once 
Indebted and discharg’d. Milton. 
UNDERSTANDABLE, adj. Capable of being under¬ 
stood.—To be understandable is a condition requisite to a 
judge. Chilling-worth. 
UNDERSTANDER, s. One who understands, or 
knows by experience.—I am the better understander now. 
Beaum. and FI. 
UNDERSTANDING, s. Intellectual powers ; faculties 
of the mind, especially those of knowledge and judgment. 
—I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine 
honesty puts it to utterance. Shakspeare. —The under¬ 
standings of a senate are often enslaved by three or four 
leaders. Swift.— Skill; knowledge; exact comprehension. 
—Right understanding consists in the perception of the 
visible or probable agreement or disagreement of ideas. 
Locke. —Intelligence ; terms of communication.—He hoped 
the loyalty of his subjects would concur with him in the 
preserving of a good understanding between him and his 
people. Clarendon. 
UNDERSTANDING, adj. Knowing ; skilful.—The 
present physician is a very understanding man, and well 
read. Addison. 
UNDERSTANDINGLY, adv. With knowledge; with 
skill. 
Your grace shall find him — 
— Courtly, and scholarlike, undcrstandingly read 
In the necessities of the life of man. Beaum. and FI. 
Intelligibly.—He took ten drams of opium in three days, 
and yet spake undcrstandingly ! Burton. 
UNDERSTOOD, 
