Dictionary entry

Cheapen

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Cheap″en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Cheapened (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Cheapening.] [OE. cheapien, chepen, to trade, buy, sell, AS. ceápian; akin to D. koopen to buy, G. kaufen, Icel. kaupa, Goth. kaupōn to trade. Cf. Chap to bargain.] 1. To ask the price of; to bid, bargain, or chaffer for.

Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy.

Swift.

2. [Cf. Cheap, a.] To beat down the price of; to lessen the value of; to depreciate. Pope.

My proffered love has cheapened me.

Dryden.