Underworld
|un-der-world|
🇺🇸
/ˈʌndərˌwɜrld/
🇬🇧
/ˈʌndəˌwɜːld/
(underworld)
hidden world
Etymology
'Underworld' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'underweoruld,' where 'under' meant 'beneath' and 'weoruld' meant 'world.'
'Underweoruld' transformed into the Middle English word 'underwerld,' and eventually became the modern English word 'underworld.'
Initially, it meant 'the world beneath the earth,' but over time it evolved to also mean 'a hidden part of society associated with crime.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the world of the dead or the afterlife, often depicted as a place beneath the earth.
In mythology, the underworld is where souls go after death.
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Noun 2
a hidden or secret part of society, often associated with criminal activities.
The detective was investigating the city's underworld connections.
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Last updated: 2025/04/02 11:40