[f. as prec.]
1. That excavates or erodes beneath a surface.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 160. Ireland hath neither singing Nightingall,… nor vndermining Moule.
1664. Ingelo, Bentiv. & Ur., VI. 219. Those great Hills … would have been worn away … and … their high Tops would have been levell’d by the undermining Streams.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., viii. (1856), 57. The glacier, thus exposed to a saline water base … and to an undermining wave action,… is of course speedily detached.
1882. Floyer, Unexpl. Baluchistan, 121. It has now probably been carried away piecemeal, for it was then perilously near the undermining river.
b. In fig. contexts.
1661. Cowley, Cromwell, Wks. 1906, II. 352. No Guards can oppose assaulting Ears, Or undermining Tears.
a. 1665. J. Goodwin, Filled w. the Spirit, xiv. (1670), 412. The Gospel … hath cast down … many a strong hold…; it is of an undermining nature.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 124, ¶ 7. There are others who are Moles through Envy…. I have already caught two or three of these dark undermining Vermin.
1858. J. Martineau, Stud. Chr., 271. Huge piles of curious learning,… which … may detain men from search after the living rock, or notice of the undermining flood.
2. Insidiously subversive or destructive.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, R iv b. Vndermining easinge droppers … haue wroughte this estraungment betwene vs.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle (1871), 44. Honours now are purchased by stealth Of vndermining bribes.
1679. Roxb. Ball. (1883), IV. 552 The Malice, and the restless Hate, Of Undermining Foes.
1709. Stanhope, Paraphr., IV. 35. Undermining Arts of Disputers and Deceivers.
1849. Claridge, Cold Water Cure, 173. There are many sufferers from this undermining malady.
1860. Geo. Eliot, Mill on Floss, V. ii. Instead o’ whispering in corners, in that plotting, underminding way.
Hence Underminingly adv.
c. 1590. Lady Bacon, in J. Spedding, Bacon’s Lett. (1862), III. v. 113. He commonly opened underminingly all letters sent to you from counsel or friends.
1601. Deacon & Walker, Spirits & Divels, To Rdr. 8. Which these men … vnderminingly haue publisht in print, without any … authenticall priuiledge.
