English · Daily Life
beneath
/bɪˈniːθ/
[/bɪˈniːθ/]
under; below
Intermediatepreposition
Definition
In or to a lower position than something; directly under it.
Example
The treasure lay beneath the floor.
The treasure lay beneath the floor.
Etymology
From Old English 'beneoðan', from 'be-' plus 'neoðan' (below).
How & Where It’s Used
More formal or literary than 'under'.
Literary Heritage
Common in poetry, as in 'beneath the starry sky'.