[UNDER-1 7.]
1. trans. To study (a part or character) in order to be able to take the place of a principal actor or actress if necessary.
1874. Slang Dict., 333. Some actors of position … have always other and inferior … artists understudying their parts.
1880. Theatre, Oct., 207. She was selected to understudy the characters of the stars.
2. To act as understudy to (a principal actor or actress).
1884. G. Moore, Mummer’s Wife, xv. Some one must understudy Serpolette.
1894. Crockett, Play Actress, ix. She has to understudy Rose Sargeant and play her parts when that lady’s temper is out of order.
transf. 1893. Westm. Gaz., 23 June, 5/2 (Racing). Watercress had no difficulty in understudying La Flêche last week.
Hence Understudied ppl. a.
1880. Temple Bar, March, 321. An under-studied Part.
