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undermining

 - 3 dictionary results

un⋅der⋅mine

  [uhn-der-mahyn or, especially for 1, 2, 4, uhn-der-mahyn]
Use undermining in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -mined, -min⋅ing.
1. to injure or destroy by insidious activity or imperceptible stages, sometimes tending toward a sudden dramatic effect.
2. to attack by indirect, secret, or underhand means; attempt to subvert by stealth.
3. to make an excavation under; dig or tunnel beneath, as a military stronghold.
4. to weaken or cause to collapse by removing underlying support, as by digging away or eroding the foundation.
Origin:
1300–50; ME underminen. See under-, mine 2

Related forms:
un⋅der⋅min⋅er, noun
un⋅der⋅min⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To undermining
un·der·mine   (ŭn'dər-mīn')   
tr.v.   un·der·mined, un·der·min·ing, un·der·mines

  1. To weaken by wearing away a base or foundation: Water has undermined the stone foundations.

  2. To weaken, injure, or impair, often by degrees or imperceptibly; sap: Late hours can undermine one's health.

  3. To dig a mine or tunnel beneath.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

undermine 
c.1300, undermyne, from under + mine (v.). The fig. sense is attested from c.1430. Cf. Du. ondermijnen, Dan. underminere, Ger. unterminiren.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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