underlie

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un·der·lie / ˌəndərˈlī/ • v. (-ly·ing; past -lay; past part. -lain) [tr.] (esp. of a layer of rock or soil) lie or be situated under (something). ∎  be the cause or basis of (something): the fundamental issue that underlies the conflict| [as adj.] (underlying) the underlying causes of poverty and drug addiction.

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