underling

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a person of lower rank who works for or is controlled by someone more powerful, often used disparagingly

   The director sent an underling to deliver the unwelcome news.

From Middle English underling and Old English underling, formed from under + -ling. The suffix originally marked a person associated with or characterized by something; here it denotes someone beneath another in rank.

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
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