subter

Latin

Alternative forms

Etymology

From sub (under) +‎ -ter.

The use where subter governs the accusative is from instrumental/ablative and accusative and comes from Proto-Indo-European *-teros used adverbially. The use where it governs ablative is by analogy with sub.

Pronunciation

Adverb

subter (comparative subterius, no superlative)

  1. down below, underneath
    Supra et subter.Up above and down below.

Preposition

subter (+ accusative, ablative)

  1. (with accusative) directly below an area that is under another; underneath, (figuratively) below inferior
    Subter pineta.Below the pine-woods.
    • c. 45 BCE, Cicero, Tusculan Disputations 1.20:
      [] iram in pectore, cupiditatem supter praecordia locavit.
      • 1877 translation by Charles Duke Yonge
        [] anger in the breast, and desire under the præcordia.
  2. (with ablative) underneath, (figuratively) below inferior

Derived terms

References

  • subter”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • subter”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • subter in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.