Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “underdo” come from?

underdo (English) comes from Middle English underdon, from Old English underdōn, from Proto-Germanic under, from Proto-Indo-European h₁entér, from Proto-Indo-European h₁en — in; in, inside.

underdo (English): To put under, subject; To do something...

Definitions

  1. To put under, subject; To do something...

Ancestry of “underdo”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishunderdon—
2Old Englishunderdōnto put under
3Proto-Germanicunderamong, between; under, beneath; under
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁entérbetween
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁enin; in, inside

Words derived from “underdo”

  • underdoer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁en →