[UNDER-1 10 a.]
† 1. trans. To rate as inferior in value to. Obs.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. vii. 53. Or shall I thinke in Siluer she ’s immur’d Being ten times vndervalued to tride gold.
1612. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 602. Which entertainment they could not afford him, for that thei would not undervalewe themselves to ye Spanishe greatenes.
2. To rate at too low a monetary value. Also fig.
1599. Minutes Archdeaconry Colchester, fol. 257 b (MS). Dominus, eo quod constat that the goods ar vndervalued, dyd appoynt the same goods to be again apriced.
1619. Fletcher, Knt. Malta, V. i. How much you undervalue your own price, To give your unbought self, for a poor woman?
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 68. In your note … I observe you think the price of the corn undervalued.
1885. Law Times, 7 Feb., 269/1. There was a strong reason why Mr. Thomas should over-value rather than under-value the goods.
b. To reduce or diminish in value; to make of less value or worth.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 385. It followeth that the Siluer is vnderualued, and the Gold aduanced.
1692. C. O’K[elly], in Irish Narr. (Camden), 69. What undervalued it [sc. the coinage] most was the little esteem the great ones about court showed for it.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 61, ¶ 4. ’Tis such silly Starts and Incoherences which undervalue the beauteous Sex.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xi. 179. The currency has been undervalued by the fraudulent issue.
† c. To fall short of in value. Obs.
1657. J. Sergeant, Schism Dispach’t, 182. What follows is such pittiful stuff, as would under-value the worth of a piece of paper to vouchsafe it a confute.
3. To estimate or esteem too low; to value or appreciate insufficiently; to depreciate.
1611. Florio, Sottostimare, to vnder-value or esteeme.
1620. Gataker, Spirituall Watch, 114. These that so highly ouerprize their owne priuate deuotions, as thus to vnder-value the publike assemblies of Gods Saints.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, To Rdr. 17. Vertue … wanting preferment, and truth riches, shall be disrespected and undervalued.
1713. Arbuthnot, John Bull, III. i. Extolling their own good qualities, and undervaluing those of others.
1771. Junius Lett., lv. (1788), 302. A vain man does not usually compare himself to an object which it is his design to undervalue.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. 210. We shall have a fine sunshiny day to-morrow,—a blessing not to be undervalued.
1884. Church, Bacon, iii. 59. He was no mere idealist or recluse to undervalue or despise the real grandeur of the world.
refl. 1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. III. xv. Schollers … haue store of gold, but know not the worth of it, they vnder-value themselues.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-T., Ser. II. 341. He who undervalues himself is justly undervalued by others.
Hence Undervalued ppl. a.
1628. Quarles, Argalus & P., I. 30. So rare a Branch, whose undervalued worth Brings greater glory to the Arcadian Land, Then can the dull Arcadians understand.
1661. Boyle, Style of Script. (1675), 89. His so much undervalued Parables … comprise important prophecies.
