undermined
損なわれた
解説 Definition
undermined は undermine（徐々に損なう、弱める）の過去形・過去分詞で、「損なわれた」「弱められた」という意味です。信頼、権威、計画などが少しずつ傷ついた状態を表すことが多いです。
Undermined describes something whose strength, stability, authority, confidence, or effectiveness has been gradually weakened or damaged. It is the past participle of undermine and may refer to either physical foundations or less tangible things such as trust.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
原形 undermine の語末 e に -d を付けた過去分詞で、語尾は /d/ と発音します。under「下」＋mine「坑道を掘る」から、城壁の土台を下から崩す像を思い浮かべましょう。形容詞では undermined trust や undermined confidence のように、徐々に弱められた状態を表します。
Undermined is the past participle of undermine. Since the base verb already ends in silent e, only -d is added, and the ending is pronounced /d/. Break the word into under and mine: imagine attackers digging beneath a wall until its support becomes weak. That physical picture extends naturally to undermined confidence, undermined authority, or undermined trust—things weakened at their foundation, often gradually or indirectly. Unlike destroyed, undermined does not necessarily mean completely ruined; the person, structure, or relationship may still exist but has become less stable or effective.
例文
The undermined bridge was closed to traffic.
損なわれた橋は通行止めになりました。
Her undermined confidence slowly returned after practice.
損なわれていた彼女の自信は、練習の後で少しずつ戻りました。
The team tried to repair the undermined trust between the two groups.
チームは二つのグループの間で損なわれた信頼を修復しようとしました。
undermined の類義語・関連語
類義語
対義語
undermined の語源・成り立ち Etymology
under（下から）+ mine（坑道を掘る）の組み合わせ。中世の攻城戦で城壁の下にトンネルを掘り崩壊させる戦術が語源。関連語: undermine, mineral。土台を下から掘り崩す→「密かに損なう」へと意味が広がった。
Undermine combines under with mine in the sense of digging a tunnel. It originally referred to excavating beneath a wall or fortification so that its foundation would collapse, a technique used in siege warfare. The word later developed a figurative sense of weakening something gradually or indirectly. Undermined is the past-tense and past-participle form, made by adding -d to the final e of undermine.
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