Early American Newspapers Online Sample from 1915

The samples from this database all come from 1915. I chose to represent just this single year for multiple reasons. By sampling from the earlier part of the 20th century there was a significant distance from the samples I had from the 19th century, yet there was still the constant of taking samples from an early point in the century like I had done for the 18th and 19th centuries. The selection of this year in particular provided a similar variety of adjective uses we see in the present day even though the samples come from 100 years ago and since this project was developed in 2015 it made for a nice point of comparison. In looking at the individual samples the first and last of the table below are most interesting in regards to the increasingly negative adjective use of cheap. The first passage uses cheap in quotes, which suggests the author's emphasis of the term. The use in this passage combines one of the previous, more commonly used adjective meanings (regarding a small amount of necessary effort) with a relatively more modern and significantly negative meaning (referring to the worth of what's being described). The final passage uses cheap in a way not seen in past centuries, but most relative to our use of the word today. The wording suggests that cheap must by this time have enough of a negative tone that the author saw necessity in making the distinction that the quality and effort put into the product being described is only cheap in cost.

Author Title Pub. Place Passage Image/Page Number Definition
Anon. "A.H. Guion & Co. Advertisement"

Charlotte Daily Observer		 Charlotte, North Carolina "OUR LONG SUIT in sanitary plumbing is expert workmanship. Nothing taken for granted: skill born of long experience and the will to give every client the honest worth of his money. Never took a "cheap" job in our history - rather do it for nothing. But we do return value for money - charge you nothing for an estimate." i.2 p.4 Involving little trouble and hence of little worth; worthless, paltry. (adjective)
Anon. "The New York Bargain Store Advertisement"

The Columbus Ledger		 Columbus, Georgia "We have now on hand about 100 Dresses, the very latest style Dresses that have been sold no less than $22.50, $25.00 and $27.00, and being after Xmas, we are sacrificing these Dresses and we sell them so cheap that even' will not pay for the workmanship of these Dresses." i.3 p.7 Bearing a low price in proportion to its intrinsic value; of good value in proportion to its price; well worth the price. (adjective)
Anon. "No Headline"

Dallas Morning News		 Dallas, Texas "There is somewhat of absolution in a confession of failure. Infinitely worse than he who defaults on his good resolutions is he who makes none. In him at least it is not aspiration, but strength that lacks, and the light ceases to burn only for him who no longer aspires and hopes. Be not stayed by the mockeries of the cynical; they are but the cheap jests of the ignorant, who, in making them likewise proclaim their moral bankruptcy." i.1 p.8 Low, poor, disparaging. (adjective)
Anon. "Cheap Meat and Dear Grain"

The Grand Forks Daily Herald		 Grand Forks, North Dakota "Although it sounds somewhat paradorical there is little reason to doubt that meat is cheaper in Germany than it was before the war. There is a reason for this that is by no means so reassuring as the statement is evidently intended to be. Reports of our own consuls in Germany indicate a steady advance in other food commodities. The newspapers, inspired by the authorities, are imploring people to cook potatoes in their skins and to mix potato meal with flour. Tea and coffee have almost doubled in price..." i.1 p.4 That may be bought at small cost; bearing a relatively low price; inexpensive. Opposed to dear. (adjective)
Anon. "Small Grains Doing Well"

The Lexington Herald		 Lexington, Kentucky "Hemp in its history of fifty years has had some "rough sledding." Prior to that period the navy cables were made of hemp. The wire cables knocked that out. Native hemp bagging for baling cotton got its quietus from bagging made from cheap and foreign fibers, steal, manilla and jute and baling rope for cotton binding was superseded by cheap hoop iron." i.1 p.2 That may be bought at small cost; bearing a relatively low price; inexpensive. Opposed to dear. (adjective)
Anon. "Sea Water; Public"

The Miami Herald		 Miami, Florida "Sea water electrically treated has been found to be of great value as a disinfecting means, and is now used regularly in a number of English cities for cleaning swimming pools, schoolrooms, hospitals and similar places. It is very effective and quite cheap. Where the salt water is not obtainable an artifical sea water is made at a very slight addtion to the cost." i.1 p.11 That may be bought at small cost; bearing a relatively low price; inexpensive. Opposed to dear. (adjective)
Anon. "Everybody is Pleased Delighted with Prohibition in Russia"

The State		 Columbia, South Carolina "As a substitute it is proposed to establish a government monopoly of sugar, in order that the poor may have a cheap supply. Heretofore, it has been out of their reach." i.1 p.1 That may be bought at small cost; bearing a relatively low price; inexpensive. Opposed to dear. (adjective)
Anon. "Secretary Redfield Once More on the Job"

The Philadelphia Inquirer		 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania "Present conditions are due to causes which can be readily traced. They are due to enactment of a tariff law which exposes the American manufacturer to the competition of European rivals, who have the advantage of cheap labor. They are due to the hostility of the Wilson administration to business enterprise." i.1 p.8 That may be bought at small cost; bearing a relatively low price; inexpensive. Opposed to dear. (adjective)
O'Connor, Timothy J. "Anti-British Irish at a Guarded Meeting John Redmond Opposes Pro-German Attitude and is Criticized"

San Jose Mercury Herald		 San Jose, California "They are the enemies of Ireland as well as of the British Empire. Some of them may be seeking a cheap martyrdom. I only say that things are being done in Ireland today which would not be tolerated in England or in any other part of the British empire." i.1 p.11 Costing little labour, trouble, effort, etc.; easily obtained. (adjective)
Anon. "Sale of Exceptional Embroideries: The Kind of Embroideries You Will Need At Prices You Can Well Afford"

The Idaho Daily Statesman		 Boise, Idaho "Embroidery Edgings for 5c - oceans of them in materials of Swiss, Nainsook and Cambric. These edgings of very pretty designs with exceptionally well finished edges and by no means the kind youwould expect to find at this price. The materials are good and so is the workmanship. The only thing cheap about these edges is the price, which is an unusual one at, the yard, 5c." i.1 p.12 All Inclusive phrasing giving reference to a definition of cheap other than affordibility in price or indication of labor/ effort applied. (broad)