from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Cheapen \Cheap"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cheapened}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Cheapening}.] [OE. cheapien, chepen, to trade, buy,
sell, AS. ce['a]pian; akin to D. koopen to buy, G. kaufen,
Icel. kaupa, Goth. kaup[=o]n to trade. Cf. {Chap} to
bargain.]
1. To ask the price of; to bid, bargain, or chaffer for.
[Obsoles.]
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Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy. --Swift.
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2. [Cf. {Cheap}, a.] To beat down the price of; to lessen the
value of; to depreciate. --Pope.
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My proffered love has cheapened me. --Dryden.
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