Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
underplay en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁én
Proto-Indo-European *-tér
Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér
Proto-Indo-European *h₂én
Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-?
Proto-Indo-European *-dʰi
?
Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí
Proto-Indo-European *-ér
Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér
Proto-Germanic *under
Proto-West Germanic *undar
Old English under-
Middle English under-
English under-
English play
English underplay
From under- + play.
Meanings
-
The act of underplaying.
underplay en · VERB
Pronunciation
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁én
Proto-Indo-European *-tér
Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér
Proto-Indo-European *h₂én
Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-?
Proto-Indo-European *-dʰi
?
Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí
Proto-Indo-European *-ér
Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér
Proto-Germanic *under
Proto-West Germanic *undar
Old English under-
Middle English under-
English under-
English play
English underplay
From under- + play.
Meanings
-
(transitive) To play in a subordinate, or in an inferior manner; to underact a part.
-
(transitive) To make something seem less important than it really is.
As a working-class person I want to tell Tucker and any other gay and lesbian activists who call themselves socialists and so should certainly know better, that when they underplay survival issues and don't acknowledge the faultline under their feet that is class in this society, it hurts me right in the gut.
1985 August 17, Pam Mitchell, “Don't Say Class Until You Mean It”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 6, page 4:
-
(transitive) To play a low card when holding a high one, in the hope of a future advantage.
Forms
Synonyms
understate · lilliputianize · degrade · bagatellize · derogate · downplay · vilipend · make nothing of · disparage · superficialize · banalize · deprecate · denigrate · play down · belittle · underplay · understate · underestimate · trivialize · minimize · de-emphasize · belittle · cut down · make little of · downplay · set at nought · dispraise
Translations (4)
fi alinäytellä (to play in an inferior manner — see also underact) · es restarse (to play in an inferior manner — see also underact) · es minimizarse (to play in an inferior manner — see also underact) · fi laistaa (card games: to play a low card when holding a high one)