beneath

Meanings

1. 1
   prep

   Under or below something.

   The treasure was buried beneath the old tree.

2. 2
   adv

   In or to a lower place; underneath.

   She climbed the hill and looked at the valley beneath.

3. 3
   prep

   Lower in rank or dignity than; not good enough for.

   Their behaviour was beneath contempt.

From Middle English benethe, from Old English bineoþan (“beneath, under, below”), equivalent to be- + neath. Cognate with Low German benedden (“beneath”), Dutch beneden (“beneath, under, down”), obsolete German benieden (“below”).

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