understudy
/ˈʌndɚstʌdi/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.75 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To study or know a role to such an extent as to be able to replace the normal performer when required.
Transitive verb
noun
A performer who understudies; a standby for a study.
Example Sentences
- "That lean gentleman had apparently understudied Pharaoh of old and hardened his heart."
- "For Wynne-Edwards, the role of the outcasts in the welfare of the group is to wait in the wings as understudies, ready to step into the shoes of any territory holder who dies on the main stage of group reproduction."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *-tér Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Indo-European *h₂én Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *-dʰi ? Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- Proto-Indo-European *(s)tew- Proto-Indo-European *-d- Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewd- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *studéh₁ti Proto-Italic *studēō Latin studeō Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -iusnom. Latin -ium Latin studiumbor. Old French estudie Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Old French -er Old French estudierbor. Middle English studien English study English understudy From under- + study.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈʌndɚstʌdi/
- British English: /ˈʌndəstʌdi/