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▪ I. ˈunderwork, n.
[under-1 5 c, 9, 10 b.]
†1. An under-current. Obs.—1
1610G. Fletcher Christ's Vict. i. lvi, So curiously the underworke did creepe,..That afar off the waters seem'd to sleepe.
2. A structure placed under or supporting something; a substructure.
1624Wotton Elem. Archit. 79 The Couer, or Roofe,..[if] too heauy,..will suffer a vulgar obiection of pressing too much the vnder-worke. 1772T. Simpson Vermin-Killer Introd., The rain forces its way through, and rots the underwork [of the thatch]. 1776G. Semple Building in Water 18 The Under-work of the second Pier. 1890W. J. Gordon Foundry 158 As packed for export, it goes into a flat case..and takes up little more room than its underworks.
3.
†a. Work done at lower rates. Obs.—1
1624T. Scott Belgic Souldier E 3, There are so many of all Trades, who confound one another by vnderworke and indirect abuses, that [etc.].
b. Subordinate or inferior work.
1645Milton Colast. 26 To bee put to this under-work of scowring and unrubbishing the low and sordid ignorance of such a presumptuous lozel. 1708Addison Pres. State War 20 You will find most of those that are proper for War absolutely necessary for..carrying on the Underwork of the Nation.
c. Underhand or secret work.
1814D'Israeli Quarrels Auth. III. 294 The Tyrant himself had an openness, quite in contrast with the dark under⁓works of his Satellites.
▪ II. underˈwork, v.
[under-1 8 a, 8 b, 10 a.]
†1.
a. intr. To work secretly; to take clandestine measures. Obs.
1504Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 186 It is sayd that ye be lesse forward, & they underworketh falsly. 1603B. Jonson Sejanus Argt., He raiseth in private a new instrument,..and by him underworketh, discovers the other's counsels.
†b. trans. To work against secretly; to seek to undermine or overthrow. Obs.
1595Shakes. John ii. i. 95 But thou from louing England art so farre, That thou hast vnder-wrought his lawfull King. 1613–8Daniel Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626) 45 His delay yeelds the King time to..vnder-worke his enemies. 1627Abp. Abbot Narr. in Rushworth Hist. Collect. (1659) I. 440 He will underwork any man in the World, so that he may gain by it. 1659Rushw. Ibid. 4 He did first under-work his Voyage to Guienna.
2.
†a. To spend too little work on; to leave unfinished. Obs.
1691Norris Pract. Disc. 228 There is no Artist, but will perform to the utmost of his Skill, provided it be as easy for him to make his Piece compleat, as to under-work it.
b. To impose too little work upon.
1882M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal I. iii. 78 Besides, he is not underworked.
c. intr. To do too little work.
1869H. Sidgwick Let. 8 Mar. in A. & E. M. Sidgwick Henry Sidgwick (1906) 191, I am rather underworking. 1902G. Howell Labour Legislation xlii. 499 The man that under-works is as bad as the man that under-pays.
3. trans. To work for less wages than (another).
1695Whether Preserving Protest. Relig. was Motive of Revolution 17 Who by their frugal and parsimonious Living would be able..to underwork and undersell them. 1713Mercator No. 9/1 The French being able to Underwork us, will also Undersell us. |