Undercraft
adj, noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A sly trick, or subterfuge in general. obsolete, uncountable, usually
"Not that by any analysis , -or that from any table of interest or genealogy , there appears much more ground of alliance betwixt them than betwixt light and darkness , or any two of the most unfriendly opposites in nature ; - only 'tis an undercraft of authors to keep up a good understanding amongst words , as politicians do amongst men."
- 2 A submarine. dated
"But effective as mine-fields and cable nettings may be against hostile "undercraft" – as in the case of the channel where not a single troop-ship or supply-ship has yet been lost – they can be said to be only a deterrent, little more."
- 3 Witchcraft or sorcery. archaic, uncountable, usually
"Under-craft, witchcraft, call it what you will, but it is indeed poisonous."
- 4 An underground crypt. historical
"His Body was first buried in the Undercraft of his own Cathedral-Church, whence, shortly after, it was taken up, put into a goodly Shrine beset with costly Jewels and precious Stones, and plac'd at the East end of the same Church."
- 5 An apprentice or journeyman. uncountable, usually
"These principles are to organize the undercrafts for justice and humanity, for better wages and diminished poverty, the reduction of hours of toil and the abolishment of Sunday slavery in so far as possible."
- 1 To outwit; to outmaneuver. obsolete
"In mock obeisance bow him low And he succumbs your slave: a show Of high respect will undercraft His cunning wit!"
- 2 To make with insufficient craftsmanship.
"Quite recently I had a piece published in a special Latino issue of a respected literary magazine, and though the cast now includes Cuban and Puerto Rican writers as well, the themes are still the same, and much of the writing is disappointingly simplistic or undercrafted."
- 1 Beneath a craft (water, air, or space vehicle). not-comparable
"All models are recording instruments, instantaneously charting undercraft conditions on a permanent record."
Example
More examples"Not that by any analysis , -or that from any table of interest or genealogy , there appears much more ground of alliance betwixt them than betwixt light and darkness , or any two of the most unfriendly opposites in nature ; - only 'tis an undercraft of authors to keep up a good understanding amongst words , as politicians do amongst men."
Etymology
From under- + craft.
More for "undercraft"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.