Hypertext Webster Gateway: "undermine"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Undermine \Un`der*mine"\, v. t.
1. To excavate the earth beneath, or the part of, especially
for the purpose of causing to fall or be overthrown; to
form a mine under; to sap; as, to undermine a wall.
A vast rock undermined from one end to the other,
and a highway running through it. --Addison.
2. Fig.: To remove the foundation or support of by
clandestine means; to ruin in an underhand way; as, to
undermine reputation; to undermine the constitution of the
state.
He should be warned who are like to undermine him.
--Locke.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
undermine
v 1: destroy property or hinder normal operations; "The
Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war"
[syn: {sabotage}, {countermine}, {counteract}, {subvert},
{weaken}]
2: hollow out as if making a cave or opening; "The river was
caving the banks" [syn: {cave}]
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