Where does “underrate” come from?
Underrate comes from Middle English under- combined with rate, which derives from Old Norse hrata, tracing through Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European krad- to Latin ratus, past participle of reor meaning to think or reckon.
underrate (English): to underestimate; to make too low a rate or...
Definitions
- to underestimate; to make too low a rate or...
Ancestry of “underrate”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | rate | The worth of something; value; The proportional... |
| 2 | French | rate | spleen; female equivalent of rat; female rat;... |
| 3 | French | rat | rat; sweetheart; scrooch |
| 4 | Middle French | rat | rat |
| 5 | Old French | rat | rat rodent |
| 6 | Old High German | rato | rat |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | ratō | — |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | rattaz | rat |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | Hreh₃d- | to scrape |