[Late OE. undergán (f. under- UNDER-1 4 b + gán GO v.), = MDu. ondergaen (Du. -gaan), OHG. untarkân (MHG., MLG., LG. undergân, G. untergehen), Da. undergaa, Sw. undergå.]
† 1. trans. To work under, so as to impair or destroy; to undermine. Obs.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., III. 444. Ne sy la nan eorðcund cyning mid ʓitsunge to þæm swiþe undergan.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter xvi. 14. Ris vp, lauerd; forcome him swa, And als-swa him vnderga [L. subverte].
c. 1315. Shoreham, VII. 622. Ac þo þe deuel hyt aspyde Þat man hym scholde þer abyde … He þouȝte gyle al onder-go.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 146. Be [thou] affraid lest thou shouldest undergo thy selfe in purchasing the pearle.
† b. To deceive, get the better of. Obs.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1147. Ðis maidenes redden sone on-on … Hu he miȝten vnder-gon Here fader, ðat he ne wore ðor gon.
a. 1380. St. Paula, 479, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 33. Þou hast me gyled and vndur-gone [L. circumvenisti].
† c. To get under, search below. Obs.–1
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., Verses by Author. That all men seeke all what they may to know; Yea Tyme in his own cours to vndergo.
† 2. To submit to (do something). Obs.–1
c. 1200. Ormin, 2527. Þatt ȝho wass rædiȝ tunnderrgan Drihhtiness will to follȝhenn.
† b. To accept, admit, allow. Obs.–1
c. 1315. Shoreham, VII. 187. Ȝet oure by-leaue wole onder-gon Þat þyse þre beþ ryȝt al on.
c. To be subject to, to serve. rare.
1586. G. Whitney, Emblems, 223. Here, man who first should heauenlie thinges attaine,… First, vndergoes the worlde with might, and maine.
1864. Browning, in Mem. Tennyson (1897), II. i. 16. The new metre is admirable, a paladin’s achievement…. So have you made our language undergo you.
† 3. To go or pass under. Obs.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 691, in O. E. Misc., 22. And tus adam he under-ȝede, reisede him up, and al mankin.
a. 1575. trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden No. 29), 37. Howbeit, hoping eyther to winne it by assault, or compell it to yeelde, they undergoe the wall.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, VI. 444. Better my shoulders underwent the earth, than thy decease.
1627. May, Lucan, V. I 4. That day the sea seem’d mountaines topps t’ oreflow, And yeilding earth that deluge t’ vndergoe.
† b. To sink below (one’s sight). Obs.
1614. Gorges, Lucan, IX. 386. Thy sight the North-starre vndergoes,… And each starre, that is most of light, Seemes (by the sea) hid from thy sight.
† 4. To occupy oneself with; to investigate. (Also with of.) b. To get knowledge of. Obs.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1160. Ny bi-oueð us to wenden a-gen And of abraham song under-gon.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 353/273. His lettre he sende, þat he scholde of swuche þingue onder-go [v.r. scholde such þing, vndergo].
c. 1330. Amis & Amil., 603. Yif … ani wight of all þi kinne Might it vndergo, Al our ioie and worldes winne We schuld lese.
a. 1400. Sir Beues (MS. S.), 1514. That hors wel ȝerne vnder-ȝede That Beues nas not on is rigge.
5. To bear, endure, sustain, suffer, go through (pain, suffering, danger, etc.).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9748. And thol on me þe dom i sal, Þat he suld vnder-ga, yon thral.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxviii. (Adrian), 243. For-þi mare ardent wes his wil hard martirdome til vndirga.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 39. We wel þat þe bischops þat are necligent in þis, vndir go þe same peyn.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. i. 135. Silence, no more; go closely in with mee, Much danger do I vndergo for thee.
1609. Tourneur, Funeral Poem Sir F. Vere, 216. If some were still so bold to undergoe his doome.
1666. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 259. In that or other disappointments or crosses that your sister and I have undergone.
1711. Spect., No. 161, ¶ 5. They were … fit to undergo any Fatigues of bodily Labour.
a. 1770. Jortin, Serm. (1771), VII. xiii. 270. What security hath our Church from undergoing the same fate?
1832. Ht. Martineau, Weal & Woe, ix. 124. His fine spirit was broken by the anxieties he had undergone.
1887. P. McNeill, Blawearie, 121. Soon all speculation anent the punishment we had to undergo was at an end.
absol. 1842. Tennyson, Godiva, 10. She Did more, and underwent, and overcame.
† b. To bear, sustain (a burden, etc.). Obs.
c. 1460. Oseney Reg., 162. All charges to þe saide tithis longyng we … schalle bere and schall vndergoo for euer.
a. 1618. J. Davies, Witte’s Pilgr., II. xvii. Though Atlas on him Heau’n impose, He that huge Burden, staidly undergoes!
1656. H. Phillips, Purch. Patt. (1676), B 4 b. There may be an equality in the loss and charges, that so the burden may be the more easily undergone by both parties.
6. a. To subject or submit oneself, to be subjected, to (a law, inspection, examination, etc.).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9114. It semes wel … þat he wan merci of his mis … for þe scrift he vnder-yede.
c. 1315. Shoreham, V. 152. Ope þe heȝe eȝtynde day He onder-ȝede þe gywen lay, And was ycircumcysed.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 12755 (Trin.). In watir baptized he alle þo Þat wolde bapteme vndir go.
1594. Carew, Tasso (1881), 18. They all agree to vnder go his lawes.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Two Oxford Scholars, Wks. 1730, I. 4. I must undergo an Examination.
1721. Strype, Eccl. Mem., II. xxvi. 215. The Book of Public and Common Prayer, which about this time underwent a diligent inspection and reformation, by some of the bishops.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. v. 479. The danger to which this event might expose the expedition … underwent deliberation in the Council.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, I. 547. On the 1st July several clauses again underwent examination.
b. To come or fall under, to experience; to have imposed on one.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. ii. 57. Claudio vndergoes my challenge, and either I must shortly heare from him, or I will subscribe him a coward.
c. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 22. Those Elders, who … had seen and undergone the wars of Canaan.
1650. Earl Monm., trans. Senault’s Man bec. Guilty, 145. I foresee I cannot condemn this Action without under-going the jealousie of such.
1668. Hale, Rolle’s Abridgm., Pref. 2. It is a Posthumous work, which never underwent the last Hand or Pensil of the judicious Author.
1717. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Miss S. Chiswell, 1 April. Every year thousands undergo this operation.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scotl. in 1772, 96. The castle has undergone its different sieges.
1827. D. Johnson, Ind. Field Sports, 155. The Hindoos every morning … undergo ablution.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xvi. It wouldn’t do to let ’em see the present company undergoing repair.
1873. C. M. Davies, Unorth. London (1876), 81. I made up my mind to undergo a Sunday morning service at one of these churches.
c. To experience, pass through (a change or alteration).
1634. Milton, Comus, 841. She reviv’d And underwent a quick immortal change.
1711. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), III. 225. I know not what Alterations the Stone may have underwent.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 339. After this has undergone a strong fermentation.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, I. 23. Seeing the error of his ways he had undergone a conversion.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. 116. The situation of the British forces … had undergone a rapid improvement.
1884. L. J. Jennings, Croker Papers, I. iv. 116. His views underwent a very thorough change in course of time.
d. To partake of, enjoy. Obs. rare.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., I. i. 24. If any in Vienna be of worth To vndergoe such ample grace, and honour, It is Lord Angelo. Ibid. (1604), Ham., I. iv. 34 (Q 2). His vertues els be they … As infinite as man may vndergoe, Shall in the generall censure take corruption From that particular fault.
† 7. To expose oneself to (risk). Obs.–1
c. 1315. Shoreham, I. 288. Ȝet gret peryl hy vndergoþe Þat cristneþ twyes enne.
8. To take in hand; to undertake. Now rare.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., I. iii. 123. I haue mou’d already Some certaine of the Noblest minded Romans To vnder-goe, with me, an Enterprize.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, III. ii. Law, 291. Make me no excuse On thy … unworthinesse To under-goe so great a Businesse.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos., I. 108. Since him a perfect Agent we may call, who first considers what he undergoes.
1739. Tull, Horse-hoeing Husb. (1740), 252. [They] gave me such an Embarras, that if I had foreseen, I would not have underwent.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. viii. 670. Responsibility, thus limited, he had no objection to undergo.
† b. To perform or discharge (an employment, office, etc.). Obs. (Common in 17th c.)
1609. Daniel, Civ. Wars, IV. xvii. 91. Having the chiefest actions undergone Both foreign and domestical of late.
1631. May, trans. Barclay’s Mirr. Mindes, II. 38. Few they are … able to undergoe perpetuall employment, and not confounded with the different face of businesse.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 11 Sept. [He is] a very young man to undergo that place.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 266. It has been a Question among the Doctors, Whether an Executor may be compelled to undergo this Office?
† 9. To go under or by, to bear (a name). Obs.
1605. Gunpowder Plot, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), III. 26. Mr. Fawkes underwent the name of Mr. Percy’s man.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, VII. xiv. ¶ 6. A large ape, which underwent the name of Cupid.
Hence Undergoing ppl. a.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 159. I haue … Vnder my burthen groan’d, which rais’d in me An vndergoing stomacke.
