cheapen

English

Etymology

cheap + -en

Verb

cheapen (third-person singular simple present cheapens, present participle cheapening, simple past and past participle cheapened)

  1. (transitive) to decrease the value of; to make cheap
  2. (transitive) to make vulgar
    • 2017 August 13, Brandon Nowalk, “Oldtown offers one last game-changing secret as Game Of Thrones goes behind enemy lines (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:
      The pace of the season can’t help but cheapen these scenes, but I can’t deny that it’s a blast. I’ve been critical of both the relative depopulation of the cast in this final run and the speedy, schematic narrative that checks off high points and moves on without really building to them.
  3. (intransitive) to become cheaper
  4. (transitive, obsolete) to bargain for, ask the price of.
    • 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard
      The maid was on the step, cheapening fish with a virulent lady who had a sieve-full to dispose of.

Derived terms

Translations

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Anagrams

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