situated, living, or operating below the surface of the earth
2.
existing or operating in concealment
Derived forms
subterraneanly (ˌsubterˈraneanly) or subterraneously (ˌsubterˈraneously)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Latin subterrāneus, from sub- + terra earth
subterrestrial in American English
(ˌsʌbtəˈrestriəl)
adjective
underground; subterranean
Word origin
[1605–15; sub- + terrestrial]This word is first recorded in the period 1605–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: classic, ferrule, gothic, inverse, seriessub- is a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin (subject; subtract; subvert; subsidy). On this model, sub- is freely attached to elements of any origin and used with the meaning “under,” “below,”“beneath” (subalpine; substratum), “slightly,” “imperfectly,” “nearly” (subcolumnar; subtropical), “secondary,” “subordinate” (subcommittee; subplot)