[UNDER-1 9 b.]
1. A subordinate or subdued song or strain, esp. one serving as an accompaniment or burden to another. Freq. transf. of natural sounds.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Aug., 128. And Willye is not greatly ouergone, So weren his vndersongs well addrest.
1593. Drayton, Ecl., ix. G 3 b. When now at last … Was poynted who the Roundelay shoold singe And who againe the vndersong should beare.
1613–6. W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. iii. 1028. He thus began … To prayse his love: his hasty waves among The frothed rockes, bearing the under-song.
1697. Dryden, Virg., Past., III. 86. The challenge to Damœtas shall belong: Menalcas shall sustain his under-song.
1710. Philips, Pastorals, vi. 8. As eldest, Hobbinol, begin; And Languet’s Under-Song by Turns come in.
1795. Coleridge, To J. Cottle, 24. Th’unceasing rill … Murmurs sweet undersong ’mid jasmin bowers.
1820. Keats, Lamia, II. 200. While fluent Greek a vowel’d undersong Kept up among the guests.
1885. Runciman, Skippers, 196. The hoarse undersong from the dim distance.
2. fig. An underlying meaning; an undertone.
1631. R. H., Arraignm. Whole Creature, xviii. 326. Which is still as the conclusive undersong to the discanting of my larger Ditty.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 183. Iobs sorrowfull Messengers make it their under song of sad tidings.
1818. Keats, Lett., Wks. 1889, III. 141. If there is any fault in the Preface it is not affectation, but an undersong of disrespect to the public.
1886. Hall Caine, Son of Hagar, II. xv. Beneath the chorus of their hearts’ joy there was an undersong of discord.
