underpinning

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a foundation, support, or basic idea that holds something up

   The theorem is an underpinning of the whole argument.

2. 2
   noun

   structural support added below a wall or building

   Engineers inspected the underpinning before work continued.

3. 3
   verb

   present participle of underpin: supporting or forming the basis for something

   Several assumptions are underpinning the model.

From underpin + -ing. Underpin originally means to support from below; the abstract noun keeps that image for ideas and systems.

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