underly

comparative more underly · superlative most underly

1. dialectalPoor; inferior.

comparative more underly · superlative most underly

1. obsoleterareAt a lower level.

   The Seed-Branch […] is presently divided into two main Branches, and those two into other less; whereof some underly, others aloft, run along the Coat.

   1672, Nehemiah Grew, The anatomy of vegetables begun

2. colloquialIn an inferior or inadequate manner; insufficiently (chiefly in opposition to overly).

   Overly madeup and underly dressed young women were dancing in a cluster on the floor.

   2014, Jass Richards, Licence to Do That

   2 more examples

   In this case, we are not in a position—at least from the perspective of the rules themselves and the values that lie behind them—to say that they are overly or underly inclusive.

   2000, William C. Heffernan, John Kleinig, From Social Justice to Criminal Justice, page 109

   Better to struggle claustrophobically from the grasp of an overly adoring parent than to fall serially in love with emotionally cruel or distant partners, which is what everyone with underly adoring parents always does.

   2016 July 3, Victoria Coren Mitchell, The Observer

present singular third person underlies · participle present underlying · past underlay · participle past underlain

1. nonstandardNonstandard spelling of underlie.

   I asked him what principles he felt should underly the care provided during such a voyage.

   1967, R. D. Laing, The Politics of Experience and the Bird of Paradise