Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The part or division of the day which included undern: generally applied to the after-part of the day. See undern.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun informal the time spent at a workplace doing non-work activities.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Based on overtime

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word undertime.

Examples

  • When I returned to the time when I had picked up the pistol, all I could see from the undertime was a shimmering flow of energy and a sea of hot glass fused into strange shapes and emitting a hellish glare quite discernible from the undertime.

    Timegod's World Modesitt, L. E. 1992

  • DeMarco coined the word "undertime" for the relaxing periods where we take a break from increasing workloads.

    Is The Boss Watching? 2007

  • Critics of the software argue that Web surfing is just another form of "undertime," the inevitable hours we spend each workday gossiping, getting coffee or talking on the phone to friends.

    Is The Boss Watching? 2007

  • At my last job, when things were especially slow, they had "undertime" where people could leave early, and it didn't count as leaving early or being sick or anything, it was just you ceasing to work for that day.

    And You Think I Somehow Have What It Takes Because...? emu-head 2006

  • Which I guess should now be referred to as "six feet undertime."

    Thomas Stern: A Kick in the Career: Amazing True Stories of Death by Overtime 2008

  • When the morning morrowed she appeared before the woman and, renewing an old acquaintance with her, fell to visiting her daily, eating the undertime with her and the evening meal and carrying away food for her children.

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • He notes that in the early 1900s, the telephone -- also a great undertime tool -- was once viewed as a threat to productivity as well: workers were supposed to use it only to call the police.

    Is The Boss Watching? 2007

  • I could have checked by looking undertime, but didn't bother.

    Timegod's World Modesitt, L. E. 1992

  • I did the split-entry trick a second time, leaving my heels locked in the undertime, and as quickly as possible, studied the vector arrow pointing to the ninth flag.

    Timegod's World Modesitt, L. E. 1992

  • Since I didn't want to wait that long, I scanned the undertime future for Baldur's return before I broke out and dropped out in a deserted corner before walking back into plain sight.

    Timegod's World Modesitt, L. E. 1992

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • He mines his deep mind for some rhyme

    And hopes he will find the sublime.

    In fits and in spasms

    He scours those chasms

    Constrained by his scarce undertime.

    December 30, 2018