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be·low

(bĭ-lō)

adv.

1. In or to a lower place; beneath.

a. On or to a lower floor; downstairs.

b. Nautical On or to a lower deck.

3. In a later part of a given text: figures quoted below.

4. Farther down, as along a slope or valley.

5. In or to hell or Hades.

6. On the earth.

a. In a lower rank or class.

b. Below zero in temperature: 40° below.

prep.

1. Underneath; beneath.

2. Lower than, as on a graduated scale.

3. Downstream of: launched the canoe just below the bridge.

4. South of: Guatemala is below Mexico.

5. Unsuitable to the rank or dignity of: Such petty behavior is below me.

[Middle English bilooghe : bi, by; see BY¹ + loghe, low; see LOW¹.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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