underpin

English

WOTD – 13 March 2009

Etymology

under- +‎ pin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌʌn.dəˈpɪn/
• IPA^(key): /ˌʌn.dɚˈpɪn/, /ˈʌn.dɚˌpɪn/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

  ,

  Audio (US):

  (file)

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

Verb

1. (transitive) To support from below with props or masonry.

   You should underpin the mine roof to prevent further collapse.

2. (transitive, figuratively) To give support to; to corroborate.

   Public confidence in politicians must underpin our democracy.

   • 2019 November 6, “Eurostar reports another increase in passengers”, in Rail, page 25:

     The operator said the results were underpinned by a 16% increase in Q3 sales from North America.

Translations

To support from below with props or masonry

• Czech: podepřít
• Dutch: funderen (nl), schragen (nl)
• Finnish: tukea (fi), pönkittää
• French: étayer (fr)
• German: untermauern (de), stützen (de)
• Italian: sostenere (it), sorreggere (it)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Occitan: piejar, estançonar
• Polish: podtrzymywać (pl)
• Russian: укреплять (ru) (ukrepljatʹ), усиливать (ru) (usilivatʹ)
• Spanish: apuntalar (es), sustentar (es)
• Swedish: stödja (sv), stötta (sv)

To give support to

• Czech: podepřít
• Dutch: ondersteunen (nl), dragen (nl), schragen (nl)
• Finnish: tukea (fi), pönkittää
• French: étayer (fr), supporter (fr), soutenir (fr)
• German: unterstützen (de), stützen (de), untermauern (de)
• Italian: sostenere (it), sorreggere (it)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Occitan: apevar
• Polish: podtrzymywać (pl)
• Russian: подде́рживать (ru) (poddérživatʹ)
• Spanish: respaldar (es), sustentar (es)
• Swedish: stödja (sv), stötta (sv)