understate

Meaning

1. To state (something) with less completeness than needed; to minimise or downplay.
2. To state (something) with an intentional lack of emphasis, in order to express irony.
3. To state a quantity that is too low.

Etymology / origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér 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- Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Italic *status Latin statuslbor. Old French estatbor. Middle English stat English state English understate From under- + state.

Sources

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