1. trans. To bargain for, ask the price of, bid for, offer a price for; = CHEAP v. 3. Also fig. arch. or dial.
1574. Hellowes, trans. Gueuara’s Ep. (1577), 129. A Colte … the which he cheapened, bought, and brake.
1608. Shaks., Per., IV. vi. 10. She would make a puritan of the devil, if he should cheapen a kiss of her.
1727. Swift, City Shower, Wks. 1755, III. II. 39.
| To shops in crowds the daggled females fly, | |
| Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy. |
1766. Wilkes, Corr. (1805), III. 173. I cheapened a pig … and was asked only eighteen sols.
1851. D. Jerrold, St. Giles, v. 48. As coolly as though he was cheapening pippins at an apple-stall.
b. absol. To bargain, chaffer.
1620. Quarles, Pental. (1717), 66. A great Exchange of ware, Wherein all sorts, and sexes, cheapning are.
1883. Standard, 31 Aug., 2/3. To sell and to cheapen in the market square.
† 2. trans. (?) To chaffer, haggle about terms with (a person), or about (a bargain). Obs.
1654. Earl Orrery, Parthen. (1676), 541. His Enemies … without any cheapening, charg’d him so roundly, that [etc.]. Ibid. (1677), Art of War, 30. In … Field Engagements. where we intend not to cheapen an Enemy, but to fall on merrily. Ibid. (a. 1679), Guzman, II. I wish, whilst you are cheapening the Bargain, that they do not clap it up.
3. trans. To make cheap, lower the price of.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Fr. Wines & Pol., viii. 125. This … lessens the cost of production, and … would cheapen our corn.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., I. 113. Cheapening production.
1885. J. Payn, Talk of Town, II. 240. His melancholy, perhaps, might have been put on with a view of cheapening the terms … with his employers.
b. fig. To lower in estimation, cause to be thought little of, bring into contempt, vilify.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 426. Meannesse of Birth, or slender Havings, cheapen the richest Abilities.
1668. Dryden, Tyr. Love, III. i. I find my proferd love has cheapend me.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., IV. 65. Who cheapens life, abates the Fear of Death.
1879. ‘Ouida,’ C. Castlemaine, 2. She was too proud to cheapen herself with coquetry.
4. intr. To become cheap (lit. and fig.).
1805. Ann. Rev., III. 308. Corn cheapens in the Baltic when it becomes dear in the Mediterranean.
1886. Advance (Chicago), 28 Jan., 49. The calm and quiet delights of home circles never cheapen.
Hence Cheapening vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 110. Cheepenyng of a face of furre.
1656. Dugard, Gate Lat. Unl., § 798. 249. Contented with the moderate gain of the cheapening parties.
1773. Brydone, Sicily (L.). It is only after a long series of cheapenings that a purchase can be effected.
1863. Fawcett, Pol. Econ., I. viii. (1876), 86. Labourers … are benefited … by the cheapening of any article of ordinary consumption.
