price-cutting
UK[ˈpraɪsˌkʌtɪŋ]US[ˈpraɪsˌkʌtɪŋ]
n
The action or practice of reducing prices, typically to compete with other sellers.
Morpheme Breakdown
price
cut
ing
price
value
cut
reduce
ing
noun suffix
Etymology
The compound noun "price-cutting" is a modern commercial term formed from two core English words. "Price" has a venerable lineage, tracing back to Latin pretium, which conveyed the concepts of monetary value, reward, or wages. The verb "cut," with its Proto-Germanic roots, carries the fundamental sense of dividing or reducing by incision. The combination, finalized with the agentive noun suffix "-ing," creates a literal and logical term for the action of reducing value. Thus, the abstract economic strategy is directly built from the concrete imagery of lowering or slicing down a price.
Analysis
Structure: price (value) + cut (reduce) + ing (noun suffix)
- price: From Old French pris, from Latin pretium (price, value, reward). Functions as the base noun.
- cut: From Middle English cutten, of uncertain origin, possibly from Old Norse. Functions as a verb root meaning to reduce or lower.
- ing: From Old English -ing, -ung, a suffix forming nouns from verbs, indicating an action or its result.
Examples
The supermarket's aggressive price-cutting forced smaller stores out of business.
The industry is engaged in a brutal price-cutting war that is eroding profit margins.
Consumers initially benefit from price-cutting, but it can lead to lower quality in the long run.