Below or lower, in place or position, with the idea of being covered; lower than; beneath; opposed to over; as, he stood under a tree; the carriage is under cover; a cellar extends under the whole house."Fruit put in bottles, and the bottles let down into wells under water, will keep long.""Be gathered now, ye waters under heaven, Into one place."
2.
Hence, in many figurative uses which may be classified as follows:
(a)
Denoting relation to some thing or person that is superior, weighs upon, oppresses, bows down, governs, directs, influences powerfully, or the like, in a relation of subjection, subordination, obligation, liability, or the like; as, to travel under a heavy load; to live under extreme oppression; to have fortitude under the evils of life; to have patience under pain, or under misfortunes; to behave like a Christian under reproaches and injuries; under the pains and penalties of the law; the condition under which one enters upon an office; under the necessity of obeying the laws; under vows of chastity. "Both Jews and Gentiles... are all under sin.""That led the embattled seraphim to war Under thy conduct.""Who have their provand Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows For sinking under them."
(b)
Denoting relation to something that exceeds in rank or degree, in number, size, weight, age, or the like; in a relation of the less to the greater, of inferiority, or of falling short. "Three sons he dying left under age.""Medicines take effect sometimes under, and sometimes above, the natural proportion of their virtue.""There are several hundred parishes in England under twenty pounds a year.""It was too great an honor for any man under a duke." Note: Hence, it sometimes means at, with, or for, less than; as, he would not sell the horse under sixty dollars. "Several young men could never leave the pulpit under half a dozen conceits."
(c)
Denoting relation to something that comprehends or includes, that represents or designates, that furnishes a cover, pretext, pretense, or the like; as, he betrayed him under the guise of friendship; Morpheus is represented under the figure of a boy asleep. "A crew who, under names of old renown... abused Fanatic Egypt.""Mr. Duke may be mentioned under the double capacity of a poet and a divine.""Under this head may come in the several contests and wars betwixt popes and the secular princes."
(d)
Less specifically, denoting the relation of being subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or the like; as, a bill under discussion. "Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, Under amazement of their hideous change."
Under arms. (Mil.)
(a)
Drawn up fully armed and equipped.
(b)
Enrolled for military service; as, the state has a million men under arms.
Under canvas.
(a)
(Naut.) Moved or propelled by sails; said of any vessel with her sail set, but especially of a steamer using her sails only, as distinguished from one under steam. Under steam and canvas signifies that a vessel is using both means of propulsion.
(b)
(Mil.) Provided with, or sheltered in, tents.
Under fire, exposed to an enemy's fire; taking part in a battle or general engagement.
... she had attempted to snatch the baby from the arms of the stranger, and here, screaming and fighting, she had clung to her position even after the taxicab had got under way; nor was it until the machine had passed the Greystoke residence at good speed that Carl, with a heavy blow to her face, had succeeded in ... — The Beasts of Tarzan • Edgar Rice Burroughs Read full book for free!
... them in their camp at the edge of the clearing, and with a torrent of unreasoning curses ordered the dogs harnessed and the outfit got under way for Lac du Mort, they knew their cause was at best ... — The Gun-Brand • James B. Hendryx Read full book for free!
... correlation of these many forces just as the expert billiard-player knows instinctively the various angles of incident and reflection between his cue-ball and its mark. Consequently they avoided the centres of eruption, paused on the spots steadied for the moment, dodged moving logs, trod those not yet under way, and so arrived on solid ground. The jam itself started with every indication of meaning business, gained momentum for a hundred feet, and then plugged to a ... — Blazed Trail Stories - and Stories of the Wild Life • Stewart Edward White Read full book for free!
... easily, husbanding all my strength for the exceedingly difficult task of getting the felucca under way single-handed—in the event of all things conspiring to render such a decided step justifiable—and sculling so gently that I scarcely raised a ripple on the highly phosphorescent water, I at length glided quietly up alongside ... — A Middy of the King - A Romance of the Old British Navy • Harry Collingwood Read full book for free!
... talking; and when the boat had stopped at the landing, they went on board and straight down to the ladies' cabin. It was by this time growing dusk; in the low cabin, with its small windows, there was but a faint glimmer of daylight remaining, and as soon as the boat was again under way, the hanging lamps were lighted and people who had till then lingered on deck began to come down by twos and threes. Mrs. Costello and Lucia took possession of a sofa; their voyage was to end about ten o'clock, and for ... — A Canadian Heroine, Volume 2 - A Novel • Mrs. Harry Coghill Read full book for free!
...
