subter

{ } a. [ L. subterfluens, p. pr. of subterfluere to flow beneath; subter under + fluere to flow. ] Running under or beneath. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., from LL. subterfugium, fr. L. subterfugere to flee secretly, to escape; subter under + fugere to flee. See Fugitive. ] That to which one resorts for escape or concealment; an artifice employed to escape censure or the force of an argument, or to justify opinions or conduct; a shift; an evasion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Affect not little shifts and subterfuges, to avoid the force of an argument. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

By a miserable subterfuge, they hope to render this position safe by rendering it nugatory. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. L. subterraneum, F. souterrain. See Subterranean. ] A cave or room under ground. [ R. ] J. Bryant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Subterranean. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. subterraneus; sub under + terra earth. See Terrace. ] Being or lying under the surface of the earth; situated within the earth, or under ground; as, subterranean springs; a subterraneous passage. -- Sub`ter*ra"ne*ous*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. A place under ground; a subterrany. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Subterranean. [ Obs. ] Bacon. -- n. A subterranean place. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. subterrenus, equiv. to subterraneus. ] Subterraneous. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]