Definition of undervalue

The word "undervalue" has its roots in Old English. The verb "undervælan" emerged in the 10th century, meaning "to deprive of value" or "to esteem too lowly." This word was derived from the combination of "under-" (meaning "below" or "less than") and "vælan" (meaning "to value" or "to estimate"). Over time, the spelling and meaning of the word evolved. In Middle English (circa 1100-1500), the word became "undervalue," and its meaning expanded to include the sense of "to set too low a price on" or "to underestimate the worth of." Today, "undervalue" means to assign too little value or importance to something, often unintentionally.