Unterlage

Verbal noun of unterliegen, equivalent to unter- (“under”) +‎ Lage (“position, lying, layer”). Middle High German underlāge is already attested, but only in the sense of “being defeated” (still present in the verb unterliegen, but long lost in the noun; compare Niederlage). The sense “document” from the notion of “papers used as basis, support”.

• IPA^(key): /ˈʊntərˌlaːɡə/, [ˈʔʊn.tɐˌlaː.ɡə]

• Audio (Berlin):

  (file)

• Audio (Austria):

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• Hyphenation: Un‧ter‧la‧ge
• Rhymes: -aːɡə

Unterlage f (genitive Unterlage, plural Unterlagen)

1. something that is or lies underneath, at the base, specific uses include
   1. an underlay, a layer on which something else rests
   2. a pad, mat, e.g. a blotter
   3. (botany) rootstock (plant used as a base in grafting)
2. (in figurative use rare) synonym of Grundlage (“basis, foundation”)
3. (usually in the plural) documents relevant to some matter, especially ones used as evidence or reminders

   Bringen Sie mir bitte die Unterlagen für mein Gespräch beim Bauamt.

   Please bring me the documents for my meeting with the building authorities.

• “Unterlage” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Unterlage” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “Unterlage” in Duden online
• Unterlage on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de