underlie

To lie in a position directly beneath something.intransitive

To lie under or beneath.transitive

• A stratum of clay underlies the surface gravel.

To serve as a basis of; form the foundation of.transitive

• a doctrine underlying a theory

To be subject to; be liable to answer, as a charge or challenge.transitive

• The knight of Ivanhoe […] underlies the challenge of Brian der Bois Guilbert.

To underlay.