underbred en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
From under- + bred.
Meanings
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Of inferior breeding or upbringing; vulgar, lacking in manners or finesse.
Himself, he felt the most underbred of all; he was afraid of these Utopians: snobbish and abject before them, he was like a mannerless earthy lout in a drawing-room, and he was bitterly ashamed of his own abjection.
1923, H. G. Wells, Men Like Gods:The art of governing these under-bred varlets lies more in the dignity of looks than in words […].
1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter CDXXIII”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:
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(of animals) Not purebred; of an inferior strain.
I prefer both sire and dam to be well-bred, but a well-bred mare and an underbred horse will produce a faster animal than a thoroughbred horse and an underbred mare.
1902, Frank Sherman Peer, Cross country with horse and hound:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| under-bred | alternative | lexicographic | |
| more underbred | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most underbred | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
thoroughbred (antonym(s) of “breeding”)