Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Subordinate work; petty affairs.
- To work or practise on underhand; undermine; destroy by clandestine measures.
- To put insufficient work or labor on.
- To do like work at a less price than: as, one mason may underwork another.
- To work in secret or clandestinely. To do less work than is required or suitable.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- intransitive verb To work or operate in secret or clandestinely.
- intransitive verb To do less work than is proper or suitable.
- intransitive verb To do work for a less price than current rates.
- noun Inferior or subordinate work; petty business.
- transitive verb To injure by working secretly; to destroy or overthrow by clandestine measure; to undermine.
- transitive verb To expend too little work upon.
- transitive verb To do like work at a less price than.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive To require too little
work from; towork insufficiently. - noun Inferior or subordinate work; petty business.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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I suspect I generally underwork the dough in an effort to avoid overworking it.
Archive 2009-10-01 2009
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I suspect I generally underwork the dough in an effort to avoid overworking it.
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Supposing that rate of increment to go on toward the centre, it is computable that the solid underwork of the world, say granite by way of conjecture, must be in a state of fusion at no vast depth from the ground on which we tread.
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The broad projecting brow seemed too heavy for its underwork; and by its depression, gave a look of sadness to the countenance, till excited animation raised the eye, beaming vivacity and strength.
The Ladies' Vase Polite Manual for Young Ladies An American Lady
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The pinnacles and upper set-off of the two centre buttresses in the figure were added by Wykeham to Edingdon's underwork.
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Winchester A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See Philip Walsingham Sergeant 1912
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Many persons confuse overwork with what is really underwork accompanied with worry or unhygienic practices.
Increasing Human Efficiency in Business: A Contribution to the Psychology of Business 1910
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There may be some underwork of the devil here: oh, poor me! it is best not to think about it.
Chapter XXIII 1909
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But Lablache, its owner, was never one to underwork his men.
The Story of the Foss River Ranch Ridgwell Cullum 1905
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In a functional way the derangement may be brought about from overwork or underwork.
Appendicitis John Henry Tilden 1895
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In sprig H the underwork consists of stitching in soft cotton, over which thick silk is embroidered in bullion-stitch.
Art in Needlework A Book about Embroidery Mary Buckle 1877
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