underlie

Meaning

1. To lie in a position directly beneath something.
2. To lie under or beneath.
3. To serve as a basis of; form the foundation of.
4. To be subject to; be liable to answer, as a charge or challenge.
5. To underlay.

Synonyms

underlay

found

bed

🛏️

buy the farm

choke

conk

croak

decease

demise

die

💀

drop dead

exit

expire

go

ground

kick the bucket

lie

lie down

mat

pad

pass

pass away

pass on

perish

pop off

repose

roll over

shim

subtend

succumb

ring down the curtain

be subject to

table mat

snuff it

cash in one’s chips

drip mat

give-up the ghost

cease to be

go to meet ones maker

backing

join the choir invisible

base

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌʌn.dəˈlaɪ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: underlien

Inherited from Old English: underliċġan

Cognate with Dutch: onderliggen

Cognate with German: unterliegen

In summary

From Middle English underlien, underliggen, from Old English underliċġan (“to underlie, to be subject to, give way to”), equivalent to under- + lie. Cognate with Dutch onderliggen (“to lie below, lie on the bottom of”), German unterliegen (“to lie under, be subject to, succumb”).