understater
|un/der/stat/er|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈʌndərˌsteɪtər/
🇬🇧
/ˈʌndəˌsteɪtə/
(understate)
subtle expression
Etymology
Etymology Information
'understate' originates from English, combining 'under-' meaning 'below' and 'state' meaning 'to express'.
Historical Evolution
'understate' evolved from the Middle English word 'staten', which meant 'to declare', and eventually became the modern English word 'understate'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to express something below its actual value', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who makes something seem less important or serious than it actually is.
He is an understater when it comes to his achievements.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42