Underpoint

adj, noun, verb

adj, noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A downward facing point on the underside.

    "An object appears to present a difficulty to a flame that cannot surround it, or approach the so doing. This a mere upper-surface ignited affords little prospect of doing, an undersurface much more, an under edge still more, and an underpoint (never mind Euclid's definitions) again still more, being capable of being nearly surrounded by the smallest flame."

  2. 2
    The lowest intensity point of a diminuendo that is followed by an increase in volume and intensity.

    "In larger dimensions, recurrent formulas, articulation, and phrase structure become important, and it may be possible to abstract various general curve types by studying the location of peaks and underpoints."

  3. 3
    The number of scored points below a specified criterion.

    "If either player overcounts or undercounts his hand (or crib or play), after he has finished pegging the wrong number, not before, the opponent may say, "Muggins," show him the error, have him peg correctly, and then add to his own score the number of overpoints or underpoints."

  4. 4
    Something that calls attention to or emphasizes a particular conclusion within a topic of discussion.

    "I appreciate the comments by the distinguished Senator from Idaho. Mr. President, just a couple of more underpoints."

Verb
  1. 1
    To add a dot beneath a letter as a proofreading or diacritical mark.

    "Curiously, he does not underpoint letters to indicate deletion or insert letters above the line; he simply tries again."

  2. 2
    To emphasize or call attention to a point within a discussion.

    "I would like to underpoint that. Your statement is that your local in the heavy construction as contrasted to the other construction, is not on strike against anybody?"

  3. 3
    To point the underside.

    "When the plates are firmly secured to the walls with the proper wall anchors all the interstices between the wedges should be underpointed with mortar."

  4. 4
    To include too few points.

    "This gives us a good idea of how much water is down there and how many well-points we need to dewater the area,” Huber explains. “On our projects. we always try to overpoint rather than underpoint."

  5. 5
    To indicate or focus on a position closer than the one that is intended.

    "If the patient then attempts to fix with the good eye, it will underpoint."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Below the point (any sense) not-comparable

    "The wheat farmer, the corn farmer, the livestock farmer, all are receiving high prices for their produce. Until October 1917, the dairyman was distinctly underpoint."

Example

More examples

"An object appears to present a difficulty to a flame that cannot surround it, or approach the so doing. This a mere upper-surface ignited affords little prospect of doing, an undersurface much more, an under edge still more, and an underpoint (never mind Euclid's definitions) again still more, being capable of being nearly surrounded by the smallest flame."

Etymology

From under- + point.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.