undermine (v.) Copy link Outline I. To dig under ground1. suffŏdio, fōdi, fossum, 32. sub terra fodio3. cŭnīculum ago4. subruo, ui, ŭtum, 35. căvo, 16. fundamenta subducoII. Fig.1. detrăho, traxi, tractum, 32. laedo, si, sum, 33. lăbĕfăcio, feci, factum, 34. lăbĕfacto, 15. subrumpo, rūpi, ruptum, 36. ēverto, ti, sum, 3 • undermine (v.): I. To dig under ground: 1. suffŏdio, fōdi, fossum, 3: Cic. Harusp. 15, 32. 2. sub terra fodio: Liv. 38, 7. 3. cŭnīculum ago: he began to u., cuniculum occultum agere instituit, ib. 4. subruo, ui, ŭtum, 3: to overthrow by a mine: the walls being u.d, subrutis cuniculo moenibus, id. 5, 21. 5. căvo, 1: towns u.d in many places, oppida crebris cuniculis cavata, Plin. 2, 82, 83. 6. fundamenta subduco: Cic. Fin. 4, 15, 42. II. Fig.: 1. detrăho, traxi, tractum, 3: to u. one's reputation, de fama detraho, id. Fam. 3, 8. 2. laedo, si, sum, 3: had u.d his own reputation, laeserat famam suam, Plin. Ep. 3, 7. 3. lăbĕfăcio, feci, factum, 3: we u. truth, labefacimus veritatem, Arnob. 2, p. 443, Gauth. 4. lăbĕfacto, 1: to u. fidelity with a bribe, fidem pretio labefactare, Cic. Cluent. 68, 194. 5. subrumpo, rūpi, ruptum, 3: Arnob. l. c. 6. ēverto, ti, sum, 3: to u. an estate, e. patrimonium, Ulp. Dig. 47, 6, 1.
UNDERMINE Copy link • UNDERMINEPROP., suffodere (to hollow underneath by digging): subruere (general term, to overthrow from beneath; e.g., a wall): cuniculo or cuniculis subruere or subtrahere (to make a mine under for the purpose of destroying; e.g., a wall. ☞ Plin. uses cavare oppida crebris cuniculis). A town that is undermined, a cuniculis suffossum oppidum. Figuratively, subruere (to overthrow, destroy; e.g., libertatem): evertere (to overthrow; e.g., rempublicam): labefactare (to make to totter or fall; e.g., rempublicam, amicitiam, justitiam).