underlie

American  

[uhn-der-lahy] / ˌʌn dərˈlaɪ /

verb (used with object)

underlay, underlain, underlying

1. to lie under or beneath; be situated under.

2. to be at the basis of; form the foundation of.

3. Grammar. to function as the root morpheme or original or basic form of (a derived form).

   The form “boy” underlies “boyish.”

4. Finance. to be primary to another right or security.

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underlie British  

/ ˌʌndəˈlaɪ /

verb

1. to lie or be placed under or beneath

2. to be the foundation, cause, or basis of

   careful planning underlies all our decisions

3. finance to take priority over (another claim, liability, mortgage, etc)

   a first mortgage underlies a second

4. to be the root or stem from which (a word) is derived

   "happy" underlies "happiest"

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Other Word Forms

• underlier noun

Etymology

Origin of underlie

before 900; Middle English underlyen (v.), Old English underlicgan. See under-, lie ²

Related Words

• control
• curb
• decide
• determine
• dominate
• guide
• handle
• inhibit
• manage
• regulate
• rule