undercurrents

Noun

undercurrent (plural undercurrents)

1. A current of water which flows under the surface, and often in a different direction from surface currents.
   • For that an undercurrent (which ſome have beleived,) in the ſtraights-mouth, will not ſolve this difficulty, unleſs occaſioned by a vaſt Gulf that muſt be placed ſomewhere in the Atlantic near the Mouth of the ſtraight, which though overflown and hidden by that mighty ſea, yet may poſſibly abſorb...1684–1685 January 28, “De ORIGINE FONTIUM Tentamen Philosophicum, in Prælectione habita coram Societate Philosophica nuper Oxoniæ instituta ad Scientiam Naturalem promovendam. Per Rob. Plot LL.D....
2. (figuratively) A tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed rather than exposed.
   • The meeting was pervaded with an undercurrent of dread, as the managers tried not to admit that firings were looming.

   Synonyms:

   subcurrent, subtext

See all 3 meanings of undercurrent