Where does “underdrive” come from?

underdrive (Norwegian Bokmål) comes from Norwegian Bokmål under, from Old Norse undir, from Proto-Germanic under, from Proto-Indo-European h₁entér, from Proto-Indo-European h₁en — in; in, inside.

underdrive (Norwegian Bokmål): to understate

Definitions

  1. to understate

Ancestry of “underdrive”, step by step

underdrive traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Norwegian Bokmål under

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Bokmålunderbelow; beneath; during; under
2Old Norseundirunder, underneath
3Proto-Germanicunderamong, between; under, beneath; under
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁entérbetween
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁enin; in, inside

via Norwegian Bokmål drive

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Bokmåldriveto move; turn; to pursue; to deviate
2Old Norsedrífa—
3Proto-Germanicdrībanąto drive, push, compel to go
4Proto-Indo-Europeandʰreybʰ-to drive, push
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁en →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁entér →Every word from Proto-Germanic under →