cheap etymology

Etymology

The word "cheap" originates from the Old English word "cēap," meaning "buy" or "trade." By the 13th century, the meaning had shifted to "a bargain," and by the 15th century, it had taken on the modern sense of "inexpensive."

Meaning

1. Costing little money; inexpensive.
2. Of low quality or value; inferior.
3. (obsolete) Purchased or acquired.

Origin

• Old English "cēap" (buy, trade)
• Proto-West Germanic "*kaupą" (buy)
• Proto-Germanic "*kaupōn" (buy)
• Proto-Indo-European "*keup-" (to buy)

Examples

• The cheap tickets were only available for a limited time.
• The cheap furniture was made from flimsy materials.
• The cheap wine was not worth drinking.

cheap relate terms

• chapman

  Etymology Old English cēapmann Proto Germanic kaupmann Proto Indo European ḱau

• cheap

  Etymology The word cheap originates from the Old English word cēap meaning buy or

• chaffer

  Etymology Middle English chaufen from Old French chaufer to heat warm Proto German

• cheap

  Etymology The word cheap originates from the Old English word cēap meaning buy or

• fare

  Etymology The word fare comes from the Old English word fær which means a journey

• chap

  Etymology From Middle English chap chape From Middle Dutch kap chappe Ultimately fr

• chop

  Etymology The word chop derives from the Old English word ceappan meaning to buy or

• revile

  Etymology The word revile comes from the Old French word revilir which in turn come

• vile

  Etymology The word vile derives from the Latin word vilis meaning worthless chea

• stogie

  Etymology The term stogie is believed to have originated from a combination of two sourc

• hokey pokey

  Etymology The word hokeypokey is of uncertain origin with various theories proposed

• loud

  Etymology The word loud comes from the Middle English word loude which in turn orig

• gaudy

  Etymology Middle English gaudy from Anglo French gaudie from Latin gaudium joy de

• meretricious

  Etymology From Latin meretricius meaning of or like a prostitute Ultimately derived