Cheapened Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

Cultural Insight

• In art, the concept of 'cheapening' applies to how mass-produced items can detract from the originality or uniqueness of a work.
• Many cultures attach value to handmade goods, and mass production can be seen as 'cheapen' their worth.
• In modern branding, when a luxury product makes items more accessible, it risks 'cheapening' the brand’s elite status.

Psychology

• Research shows that if people perceive something as 'cheapened', they may also devalue the experience associated with it.
• The principle of 'loss aversion' suggests people feel the loss of value more strongly than the joy of finding a good deal.
• Attitudes toward discounted products can vary; some see value while others associate lower prices with lower quality.

Economics

• In economic terms, when a product becomes widely available and its price drops, it may 'cheapen' the perceived quality in consumers' eyes.
• Market saturation often leads to price drops that can cheapen the brand's reputation in competitive industries.
• Sometimes quality compromise is intentional in business strategies to increase market share.

Literature

• In literature, characters often grapple with loss of identity or worth, mirroring how their lives might be 'cheapened' by society's expectations.
• Themes of cheapening can signify moral decline or societal issues in various works, illustrating a loss of values.
• Classic novels often depict a 'cheapening' of relationships when characters lose their integrity or true intentions.

Main points about word origin

• The word comes from the Middle English 'cheapen', which means to bargain or to make cheap.
• The root can be traced back to the Old English word 'cēap', meaning 'barter' or 'trade'.
• It was originally used in the context of trade to describe lowering prices.

The word 'cheapen' comes from the Old English 'ceapian', which means to bargain or trade. Over time, this evolved into the Middle English 'chepen', which referred to making something cheaper or reducing its value. The suffix '-en' is commonly used to form verbs from nouns or adjectives in English. The idea of diminishing value or worth has persisted throughout its evolution. The word gained prominence during the 19th century industrialization, as mass production made goods more accessible but often at the cost of quality. Consequently, 'cheapened' has come to signify not just a decrease in monetary value, but also a loss of prestige or desirability associated with various subjects.

This word's position of #31,614 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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• 31611 wolfram
• 31612 depolarized
• 31613 eave
• 31614 cheapened
• 31615 foreplay
• 31616 stupefaction
• 31617 uproarious
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