beneath

be|neath

W2 [bıˈni:θ] adv, prep formal

[: Old English; Origin: beneothan, from neothan 'below']

1.) in or to a lower position than something, or directly under something

= ↑underneath

▪ The dolphins disappeared beneath the waves.

▪ Jo enjoyed feeling the warm sand beneath her feet.

▪ He was standing on the bridge looking at the river beneath.

▪ Some roofs collapsed beneath the weight of (=unable to support the weight of) so much snow.

see usage note ↑under

2.) covered by something

▪ Shiona shivered beneath the bedclothes.

▪ Suddenly Cranston pulled out a large handgun from beneath his robes.

3.) used to say that someone's real character or feelings are not shown because their appearance or behaviour is different

= ↑underneath

▪ Dave sensed that something more sinister lay beneath the woman's cheerful exterior.

▪ She tried to keep calm but beneath the surface she was angry.

4.) not good enough or suitable for someone

▪ She acts as if even speaking to us is beneath her.

▪ He felt it would be beneath his dignity to comment.

▪ His mother felt he was marrying beneath him (=marrying someone who was not good enough) .

▪ I consider such behaviour to be beneath contempt (=so bad you have no respect for the person involved) .

5.) in a lower, less important rank or job than someone else

= ↑below