underbred

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   lacking refinement, good manners, or the upbringing expected in polite society

   His underbred jokes embarrassed the other guests at dinner.

2. 2
   adj

   of an animal: not purebred or regarded as being of inferior stock

   The breeder valued sound health more than whether a horse was underbred.

Formed from under- + bred, the past participle of breed. The prefix marks deficient degree: an underbred animal was judged below a desired pedigree, while an underbred person was thought deficient in upbringing, manners, or social refinement.

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