Etymology : Middle English benethe, from Old English beneothan, from be- + neothan below; akin to Old English nithera nether
Pronunciation : bi-nEth
Function : adverb
Date : before 12th century
1. prep. under, below; underneath; inferior; unworthy; lower than. prep. under, below. adunder, below. beneath\be*neath"\ , adv.
2. in a lower place; underneath. the earth you take from beneath will be barren.
3. below, as opposed to heaven, or to any superior region or position; as, in earth beneath.beneath \be*neath"\ , prep. [oe. benethe, bineo?en, as. beneo?an, beny?an; pref. be- + neo?an, ny?an, downward, beneath, akin to e. nether. see:
nether.].
4. lower in place, with something directly over or on; under; underneath; hence, at the foot of. "beneath the mount." xxxii.
5. beneath a rude and nameless stone he lies.
6. under, in relation to something that is superior, or that oppresses or burdens. our country sinks beneath the yoke.
7. lower in rank, dignity, or excellence than; as, brutes are beneath man; man is beneath angels in the scale of beings. hence: unworthy of; unbecoming. he will do nothing that is beneath his high station.beneath in or to a place that is lower [syn: below, at a lower place , to a lower place] [ant: above].
8. Lower in place, with something directly over or on; under; underneath; hence, at the foot of.
9. Under, in relation to something that is superior, or that oppresses or burdens.
10. Lower in rank, dignity, or excellence than; as, brutes are beneath man; man is beneath angels in the scale of beings.
11. Hence: Unworthy of; unbecoming.
12. In a lower place; underneath.
13. Below, as opposed to heaven, or to any superior region or position; as, in earth beneath.
14. 1. Something that is beneath another thing is under the other thing. She could see:
the muscles of his shoulders beneath his T-shirt She found pleasure in sitting beneath the trees the frozen grass crunching beneath his feet. = under ¡Ù above Beneath is also an adverb. On a shelf beneath he spotted a photo album. = below ¡Ù above.
15. If you talk about what is beneath the surface of something, you are talking about the aspects of it which are hidden or not obvious. emotional strains beneath the surface Beneath the festive mood there is an underlying apprehension. = under.
16. If you say that someone or something is beneath you, you feel that they are not good enough for you or not suitable for you. They decided she was marrying beneath her Many find themselves having to take jobs far beneath them.