Obs. (UNDER-1 4 b, 7.]
1. trans. To put (one thing) under (another); to place or set beneath.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 669. Rennande cumeð a ȝungling, raðe to him luteð, his snute him under puteð.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxviii. 18. [Jacob] took the stoon, the which he hadde vnderput to his heed. Ibid., Exod. xxvi. 21. Two stakis to eche table shulen be vnderput.
c. 1480. Henryson, Orpheus & Eurydice, 630 (Bann. MS.). Now pray we god … That he wald vndirput his haly hand Of mantenans, and gife ws forss to stand.
b. To furnish with something placed under, esp. as a support.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, II. vii. (Skeat), l. 72. Hadden they ben underput with any helpes, they had not so lightly falle.
c. 1475. Promp. Parv. (K.) 51/2. Vnder puttyn, or beryn up,… suffulcio.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXI. 342. As a caldron, underput with store of fire,… up leapes his wave aloft.
2. To put under the power or control of; to place in subjection; to subject. Const. to.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., I. pr. vi. (1868), 28. Þat þou byleuest þat þe gouernynge of it nis nat subgit ne vnderput to þe folie of þise happes auenterouses.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5402. Synches I hiȝt; And to my powere vndire-putt is all þe playn werd.
c. 1456. Pecock, Bk. of Faith (1909), 217. If it like to oure Lord God that he submitte and undirputte alle Cristen personys to resoun and fre wil.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Hen. VI., xiv. Wheron the rest depende and vnderput remayne.
b. To lower (the voice).
1382. Wyclif, Prov. xxvi. 25. Whan he shal vndirputte [L. submiserit] his vois, ne ȝiue thou credence to hym.
3. a. To put or take fraudulently. b. To substitute.
c. 1400. in Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 133. Som men seiþ … þat sche underput [L. supposuisse] to hir self lyenge in childebedde þe forseide Swane. Ibid., 137. Ibid., 149. He was … deposed, and anoþer i-ordeyned and underput [L. subrogatus].
Hence † Underputting vbl. sb. Obs.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, I. ix. (Skeat) l. 62. Though thou be put to serve the ilke jewel duringe thy lyfe, yet is that no servage of underputtinge, but a maner of travayling plesaunce.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 511/2. Vnder puttynge,… subposicio.
1611. Florio, Supposta, an vnderputting or setting.
