Where does “underlying” come from?
Underlying derives from Middle English underlien, from Old English underliċġan, a compound of under- and liċġan meaning to lie beneath.
underlying (English): lying underneath; basic or fundamental; implicit
Definitions
- lying underneath; basic or fundamental; implicit
Ancestry of “underlying”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | underlie | To lie in a position directly beneath; To lie... |
| 2 | Middle English | underlien | — |
| 3 | Old English | underliċġan | to underlie, to be subject to, give way to |