Definition of underlying
1a
: lying beneath or below
the underlying rock is shale
b
: basic, fundamental
an investigation of the underlying issues
2
: evident only on close inspection : implicit
3
: anterior and prior in claim
underlying mortgage
4
: of or being present in deep structure
underlying word order
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for underlying
The first known use of underlying was in 1611
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