underdressedadj.
/ˌʌndəˈdrɛst/, U.S. /ˌəndərˈdrɛst/ Too plainly dressed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adjective] > other
slitteredc1380
tatteredc1380
accoutredc1540
suiteda1592
undressed1605
uniforma1626
full-dressed1731
tucky1748
underdresseda1784
costumed1820
décolleté1831
fancy dressed1836
winter-clad1836
sacked1847
evening-dressed1848
mufti1853
tailor-made1896
swim-suited1955
a1784 S. Johnson in H. L. Piozzi Anecd. Johnson (1786) 109 No person (said he one day) goes under-dressed till he thinks himself of consequence enough to forbear carrying the badge of his rank upon his back.
1853 C. G. F. Gore Dean's Daughter xxvii [She] ventured to whisper that Mrs. Hargreave had a sadly provincial air—that she was under-dressed, and a dowdy.
1861 I. M. Beeton Bk. Househ. Managem. i. 10 As a general rule..it is better to be under-dressed than over-dressed.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1784