Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
underling. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
underling, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
underling in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
underling you have here. The definition of the word
underling will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
underling, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
under + -ling
Pronunciation
Noun
underling (plural underlings)
- A subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority.
1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , lines 140-141:The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
2022 December 7, Simon Shuster, “2022 Person of the Year: Volodymyr Zelensky”, in Time:His decision to stay at the compound in the face of possible assassination set an example, making it more difficult for his underlings to cut and run. “Anyone who left is a traitor,” Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, told its members a few hours after the invasion started.
2023 November 7, Rob Copeland, “‘Ray, This Is a Religion’”, in New York Magazine:So read the email from Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, and a billionaire many times over. It would be read by more than 1,000 of his underlings at the company.
- A low, wretched person.
Antonyms
Descendants
Translations
a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
See also