Cheap"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cheapened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Cheapening.] [OE. cheapien, chepen, to trade, buy, sell, AS. cexa0;pian; akin to D. koopen to buy, G. kaufen, Icel. kaupa, Goth. kaupon to trade. Cf. Chap to bargain.]
1.
To ask the price of; to bid, bargain, or chaffer for.
[Obsoles.]
Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy.
Swift.
2. [Cf. Cheap, a.]
To beat down the price of; to lessen the value of; to depreciate.
Pope.
My proffered love has cheapened me.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.