Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “undervalue” come from?

Undervalue combines English under- with value, which derives from Middle English, Old English under-, Proto-Germanic under, Latin valere meaning "to be strong," Latin valeo, Proto-Italic walēō, and Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁-.

undervalue (English): To underestimate, or assign too low a value to;...

Definitions

  1. To underestimate, or assign too low a value to;...

Ancestry of “undervalue”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishvalueThe quality that renders something desirable or...
2Middle Englishvalew—
3Old Frenchvalue—
4Old Frenchvaloirto have value; to be worth
5Latinvaleō—
6Proto-Italicwalēōto be strong
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂wl̥h₁éh₁yeti—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂welh₁-to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool

Words derived from “undervalue”

  • undervaluing
  • undervaluer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- →