undersizedadj.
/ˌʌndəˈsʌɪzd/, U.S. /ˌəndərˈsaɪzd/ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [adjective] > misused > under-used
undersized1657
under-employed1941
under-utilized1964
under-used1976
1657 J. Gauden in J. Watts Scribe, Pharisee To Rdr. sig. ¶ His great abilities..were indeed much under-sised, as to his Auditory and employment.
2. Below the proper or ordinary size.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective] > smaller than usual or standard size
petty1393
small1525
scrubby1591
undersized1706
underlinga1722
underline1750
under-size1820
manikin1840
underhanded1856
small1877
sawed-off1887
sawn-off1936
1706 London Gaz. No. 4244/3 Each undersiz'd [Galloway] to be allow'd half a Stone for every Inch under.
1747 Frauds & Abuses Coal Trade (ed. 3) 20 The like Abuse, practised..by undersized Sacks.
1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. I. 319 Mr. Abberly's undersized man-servant..delivered a note to Louisa.
1851 C. Kingsley Yeast xiii The ill-looks of the young girls surprised him much;..the majority seemed under-sized, under-fed.
1884 T. F. R. Carr in Fish. Exhib. Lit. XI. 425 Fishermen..should be compelled to riddle the mussels..and return the undersized to the scalps.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1657