devalue
|de/val/ue|
B2
/diˈvælju/
reduce worth
Etymology
Etymology Information
'devalue' originates from the prefix 'de-' meaning 'down' or 'away' and the word 'value' from Latin 'valere' meaning 'to be strong or worth'.
Historical Evolution
'devalue' evolved from the French word 'dévaluer', which was adopted into English in the early 20th century.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to lower the value of currency', but it has expanded to include reducing the importance or worth of anything.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to reduce or underestimate the worth or importance of something.
The company decided to devalue its currency to boost exports.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39