devalue
UK[ˌdiːˈvæljuː]US[ˌdiːˈvæljuː]
v
to reduce the official value of a country's money in relation to other currencies
v
to make someone or something seem less important or valuable
Morpheme Breakdown
de
value
de
remove/reverse
value
worth
Etymology
the word 'devalue' is a modern english formation, constructed from the latin-derived prefix 'de-' and the noun 'value'. the prefix 'de-', from latin de meaning 'down from, off', carries a sense of reversal or removal. the root 'value' originates from latin valere ('to be strong, be worth'), which passed into english via old french valoir. the literal, morphemic sense is thus "to remove or reduce the worth." this logical construction directly reflects its modern economic meaning of officially reducing a currency's worth and its broader figurative use of diminishing perceived importance.
Analysis
Structure: de (remove/reverse) + value (worth)
de- (latin origin, a prefix meaning 'down from, off, away, reversing or removing the action'); value (from latin valere meaning 'to be strong, be worth', functioning as the core noun/verb root meaning 'worth').
Examples
the government was forced to devalue the currency by 20 percent.
constant criticism can devalue a child's sense of achievement.
some argue that mass production devalues the artistry of traditional crafts.