Adjacent Words

Beneath definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BENE'ATH, prep.
1. Under; lower in place, with something directly over or on, as to place a cushion beneath one; often with the sense of pressure or oppression, as to sink beneath a burden, in a literal sense.
2. Under, in a figurative sense; bearing heavy impositions, as taxes, or oppressive government.
Our country sinks beneath the yoke.
3. Lower in rank, dignity or excellence;as, brutes are beneath man;; man is beneath angels, in the seale of beings.
4. Unworthy of; unbecoming; not equal to; as, he will do nothing beneath his station or character.
BENE'ATH, adv. In a lower place; as, the earth from beneath will be barren.
1. Below, as opposed to heaven, or to any superior region; as, in heaven above, or in earth beneath.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adv
1: in or to a place that is lower [syn: below, at a lower place, to a lower place, beneath] [ant: above, higher up, in a higher place, to a higher place]

Merriam Webster's

I. adverb Etymology: Middle English benethe, from Old English beneothan, from be- + neothan below; akin to Old English nithera nether — more at nether Date: before 12th century 1. in or to a lower position ; below <the mountains and the towns beneath> 2. directly under ; underneath II. preposition Date: before 12th century 1. a. in or to a lower position than ; below <beneath the surface> b. directly under <the ground beneath her feet> c. at the foot of <a camp beneath a hill> 2. not suitable to the rank of ; unworthy of <beneath his dignity> 3. under the control, pressure, or influence of <the chair sagged beneath his weight> 4. concealed by ; under the guise of <a warm heart beneath a gruff manner>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

prep. & adv. --prep. 1 not worthy of; too demeaning for (it was beneath him to reply). 2 below, under. --adv. below, under, underneath. Phrases and idioms: beneath contempt see CONTEMPT. Etymology: OE binithan, bineothan f. bi BY + nithan etc. below f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Beneath Be*neath", prep. [OE. benethe, bineo[eth]en, AS. beneo[eth]an, beny[eth]an; pref. be- + neo[eth]an, ny[eth]an, downward, beneath, akin to E. nether. See Nether.] 1. Lower in place, with something directly over or on; under; underneath; hence, at the foot of. ``Beneath the mount.'' --Ex. xxxii. 19. Beneath a rude and nameless stone he lies. --Pope. 2. Under, in relation to something that is superior, or that oppresses or burdens. Our country sinks beneath the yoke. --Shak. 3. 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. --Atterbury.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Beneath Be*neath", adv. 1. In a lower place; underneath. The earth you take from beneath will be barren. --Mortimer. 2. Below, as opposed to heaven, or to any superior region or position; as, in earth beneath.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 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 ? above PREP • Beneath is also an adverb. On a shelf beneath he spotted a photo album. = below ? above ADV: n ADV, ADV after v 2. 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 PREP 3. 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. PREP

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-neth': The adverb for "under" (kato). In Joh 8:23, the words "ye are from beneath," suggest hell in contrast to heaven. But the succeeding clause, "ye are of this world," gives the key for the interpretation. Earth, not hell, is expressed, although "that more awful meaning surely is not excluded" (Alford).

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. prep. 1. Under, underneath, below. 2. Unbecoming, unbefitting, unworthy of below the level of. II. ad. See below, ad.