underlie

Verb

Verb Forms: underlay, underlain, underlying, underlies

To be the cause or basis of something.
be or form the base for
lie underneath
To lie in a position directly beneath something.
To lie under or beneath.
To serve as a basis of; form the foundation of.
To be subject to; be liable to answer, as a charge or challenge.
To underlay.

Examples

A stratum of clay underlies the surface gravel.
The true brilliance of his Words With Friends play would often underlie a simple-looking move.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English underlien, underliggen, from Old English underliċġan (“to underlie, to be subject to, give way to”), equivalent to under- + lie. Cognate with Dutch onderliggen (“to lie below, lie on the bottom of”), German unterliegen (“to lie under, be subject to, succumb”).

Synonyms

underpin

Scrabble Score: 9

underlie: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
underlie: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
underlie: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

underlie: valid Words With Friends Word