undern etymology

Etymology

The word "undern" has its roots in the Old English word "under," meaning "below" or "beneath." It was originally used to refer to the period of the day when the sun was low in the sky, around mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

Meaning

Undern can have several different meanings:

  • As a noun:
    • A period of the day, typically mid-morning or mid-afternoon, when the sun is low in the sky.
    • A canonical hour of prayer in the Catholic Church, recited around mid-morning.
  • As a preposition:
    • Below or beneath something.
    • Less than or inferior to something.

Origin

The word "undern" has been used in the English language since the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "under," which is itself derived from the Proto-Germanic word "undaraz." This word is cognate to words in other Germanic languages, such as the German "unter" and the Swedish "under."

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