bargain--prophetes.ai

▪ I. bargain, n.¹
    (ˈbɑːgɪn)
    Forms: 4 bargayn, -geyne, 4–6 -gan(e, -gayn(e, 4–7 gaine, 5 bergayne, bargen, -geyn, 6 bergan, bargyn, -gin, 6– bargain.
    [a. OF. bargaine, also bargaigne, -gagne, -caigne = Pr., Pg. barganha (cf. Pr. barganh, It. bargagno), pointing to a late L. form *barcāne-um, -a: see bargain v. The etymology being obscure, the development of meaning is also doubtful.]
    † 1. a. Discussion between two parties of the terms on which one is to give or do something to or for the other; chaffering; bargaining. Obs.

1330 R. Brunne Chorn. 270 Þe cardinals..Oft for þe pes with Philip mad bergayn. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 189 Bargeyns [C. bargeynes] and beuerages bi-gonne to aryse. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 24 Bargayne, licitacio, stipulacio. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. i. 139 In the way of Bargaine..Ile cauill on the ninth part of a hayre.

† b. to beat a (the) bargain: to bargain, haggle.

1664 Killigrew Parson's Wed. iii. v, To beat a bargain for a score of sheep. 1667 Pepys Diary 14 Aug., With a little beating the bargain, we come to a perfect agreement.

2. a. An agreement between two parties settling how much each gives and takes, or what each performs and receives, in a transaction between them; a compact.

c 1340 Cursor M. (Trin.) 16490 Al for nouȝt..þe bargan made hit is. c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 502 This bargaine is ful-drive..Ye shul be paied trewely. 1464 Mann. & Househ. Exp. 261 In party of payment off theyr bargeyn..v. marc. xxd. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. 19 A bargain is a bargain, and must stand without all excepcion. 1597 Bacon Good & Evil (1862) 266 The second blow makes the fray, The second word makes the bargaine. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, v. ii. 134, I loue you..so clap hands, and a bargaine. 1674 Owen Holy Spirit (1693) 93 An Earnest is the Confirmation of a Bargain and Contract made. 1833 H. Martineau Cinnamon & P. v. 92 The colony will not long fulfil its part in this unequal bargain.

b. Sometimes applied to what one of the parties has contracted or stipulated to do or receive; or to the aspect of the compact towards one of the parties, e.g. a ‘bad bargain.’

1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) iv. xxi. 224 The seller putteth in his bargayne that he may bye again his herytage. 1593 Tell-trothe's N.Y. Gift 33 Whosoever..is bound to a bad bargain. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turkes (1638) 221 The best bargaine they could make therein. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 473 The buyer may condemn the seller if the cattel be not so good as his bargain. 1769 Junius Lett. v. 28 This is the losing bargain.

3. a. That which is acquired by bargaining; a purchase regarded in the light of its proving advantageous or the reverse; without qualification, an advantageous purchase.

1352 [see 7.] 1516 Churchw. Acc. St. Marg. (Nicholls) 8 Given to the broker that did help us to the bargain of the barneston, 4d. a 1619 Fletcher Wit without M. v. 163 Before I buy a bargain of such Runts, I'le buy a Colledge for Bears. a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 144 How may I get a good bargain? 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xii, I had them a dead bargain, or I should not have bought them. 1812 Examiner 14 Sept. 591/2 They should not trust..to buying bargains, as they will often meet..with..blind ones. 1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xv. 110 A couple of books..which he had picked up as a bargain.

b. In certain coalfields in England, a piece of work let to the workmen making the lowest offer. Also Comb., as bargain-letting, bargain-man, bargain-taker, bargain-work (see quot. 1851 in sense 8).

1825 E. Mackenzie Hist. Northumb. (ed. 2) I. 100 These bargains are taken in partnerships, consisting of from two to eight men. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Bargain-men. 1881 Instr. Census Clerks (1885) 84 Copper Miner... Bargain Man. 1897 Daily News 18 Mar. 3/4 They cannot take special bits of work, known as bargains, but must go to the bargain-takers and ask them for rock to cut up. 1897 Westm. Gaz. 1 Sept. 7/1 Bargain-letting recommenced to-day at Lord Penrhyn's Carnarvonshire slate quarries.

c. esp. An article of which the price is professedly reduced for the purpose of a special sale in a shop or stores; also attrib. and Comb. designating persons and things associated with the practice of offering goods for sale in this way, e.g. bargain counter, bargain-day, bargain-hunt (also as v. intr.), bargain-hunter, bargain-hunting, bargain-price, bargain-sale, bargain-seeker; bargain basement, a basement floor where bargains are displayed; also transf. and fig.

1899 Chicago Daily News 25 May 19/6 There is not room in our Bargain Basement for all the bargains we have created for to-morrow. 1927 Star 1 June 6/1 Selfridge's Bargain Basement. 1932 Daily Express 27 June 11/3 Every railway company, every travel bureau, every steamship line has its own ‘bargain basement’. 1935 Brit. Jrnl. Psychol. Oct. 190 Ghostly raiment which to them is none the less resplendent through being acquired in the bargain basement of compromise and expediency. 1959 Economist 10 Jan. 100/1 Any such bargain-basement nuclear deterrent as we could hope to produce and mount in this country will be minimally effective.

1888 Scribner's Mag. Jan. 65/2 Ladies..in all the finery that the ‘bargain counters’ of Fourteenth Street could furnish. 1904 Post Express (Rochester, N.Y.) 22 July 4 The bargain counter rates for steerage traffic. 1908 G. Burgess Maxims of Methus. xvi. 14 From the bargain counter she selecteth her gloves.

1887 Puck 23 Nov. 210/2 Football's too tame... You've never seen the women at Macy's on bargain-day. 1902 A. Bennett Anna of 5 Towns xiii. 350 The bargain-hunt was up.., always second-hand, but always good. 1937 M. Hillis Orchids on Budget (1938) iii. 39 If you must bargain-hunt, do it late in the season at a good shop.

1791 J. Lackington Memoirs xix. 143 These very bargain hunters have given me double the price that I now charge. 1838 Mag. Domestic Econ. III. 201 If you leave it to their integrity..you will generally be supplied with better provisions..than by becoming a ‘bargain hunter’. 1886 Longm. Mag. VII. 447 Last month was a lucky one for bargain-hunters.

1792 M. Wollstonecraft Rights Wom. iv. 166 Those English women whose time is spent in..shopping, bargain-hunting. 1884 C. Dickens Dict. Lond. 82/1 People bargain-hunting in this market. 1938 Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Yr. 1938 423/1 Endeavours to lure the impoverished, bargain hunting public of the United States to the box office.

1904 Westm. Gaz. 7 Jan. 8/1 Jewellery and chiffons and laces are there, going at bargain prices.

1898 C. A. Bates Clothing Bk. No. 5211 Garments for which you pay the additional price at widely advertised ‘bargain’ sales. 1907 ‘O. Henry’ Trimmed Lamp (1916) 114 ‘Have I ever chucked any bargain sale stuff at you, Moll?’ asked the Kid, with calm dignity.

1834 Chambers's Edin. Jrnl. III. 145/3 The unrespective hands of brokers and bargain-seekers.

4. transf. A transaction that entails consequences, especially unpleasant ones; a (bad or unfortunate) ‘business.’ arch. or Obs.

c 1400 Rom. Rose 4932 Youthe gynneth ofte siche bargeyne, That may not eende withouten peyne. 1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle iv. xv. (1483) 63 One of vs thre must abye this bargeyn. c 1460 Towneley Myst. 22 That bargan may they ban, That ille has done. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. i. iii. (1695) 20 God..would certainly make it a very ill Bargain to the Transgressor.

† 5. a. Contention or contest for the mastery; struggle, combat, fight, battle. north. Obs.

1375 Barbour Bruce vii. 221 He helpit hym swa in that bargane, That thai thre tratouris he has slane. c 1400 Destr. Troy vi. 2502 Soche bargens are bytter, þat hafe a bare ende. 1513 Douglas æneis iv. Prol. 69 The meik hartis in belling..Mak fers bargane. 1556 Lauder Tractate 458 Thay suld be fre..Frome toulȝe, bergane, and debait. 1606 Warner Alb. Eng. xiv. xc. (1612) 365 On Brudus side the better of that bloudie bargaine went.

† b. fig. Bout, struggle, stour. Obs.

1615 Crooke Body of Man 225 As in hard bargaines of trauell it often hapneth..to Women.

6. Law. bargain and sale. (See quots.)

1602 W. Fulbecke 1st. Pt. Parall. 13 When an imperfect bargaine and sale is to bee perfited, the bargainee dooth not take the profites. 1641 Termes de la Ley 37 By such a bargaine and sale lands may passe without livery of seisin, if the bargaine and sale bee by deed indented, sealed, and inrolled. 1876 Digby Real Prop. vi. 293 A bargain and sale was where the legal owner entered into an agreement with a purchaser for the sale to him of his interest, and the purchaser paid, or promised to pay, the money for the land.

7. Phrases. Dutch or wet bargain: one concluded by the parties drinking together. into (to obs.) the bargain: over and above what is stipulated or expected; moreover, besides. † to buy the bargain dear, (ellipt.) to buy the bargain: to pay dearly for a thing. † to sell any one a bargain: to make a fool of him, to ‘sell’ him. to strike (up obs.) a bargain: to come to terms over a purchase. to be off one's bargain: to be released from an engagement. to make the best of a bad bargain: to make the best of adverse circumstances.

1352 Minot Poems vi. (1795) 28 Fro thai met with Inglis⁓men, All thaire bargan dere thai boght. 1530 Palsgr. 455/1, I bye the bargayne, or I fele the hurte..Le marché me cuit. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. iii. i. 102 The Boy hath sold him a bargaine. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 473 If these things be true, then I will strike up the bargain. 1636 Ariana 55 An excellent meanes to revenge him on..Palamede, and to have Ariana to the bargaine. 1640 R. Brathwait Boulster Lect. 81 You may suspect mee that I relate these purposely to sell you a Bargaine. 1650 Bp. Hall Cases Consc. 21 Before the bargaine be stricken. 1670 Ray Prov. 61 Make the best of a bad bargain. a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. I. i. 45 He paid much too dear for his Wife's Fortune, by taking her Person into the bargain. 1678 Otway Friendship in F. 16, I hate a Dutch Bargain that's made in heat of Wine. 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull ii. 11 Matters have not been carried on with due secrecy; however, we must make the best of a bad Bargain. 1727 Pope Bathos 111 The principal branch of the alamode is the Prurient..It consists..of..selling of bargains, and double entendre. 1729 Franklin Ess. Wks. 1840 II. 31 What baser wretch first corrupted him, and then bought the bargain. 1753 Scots Mag. July 359/1 The bargain is to be struck at 700,000 florins. 1767 Gray in Corr. Nicholls (1843) 68, I should have been glad to hear your uncles were off their bargain. 1790 Boswell Johnson (1811) II. 341 Mrs. Thrale was all for..according to the vulgar phrase, ‘making the best of a bad bargain.’ 1805 Windham Speeches (1812) II. 271 The recruit took the condition of a soldier, with a guinea to make it a wet bargain. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xvii. 7 Men had made up their minds to submit to what they could not help, and to make the best of a bad bargain. 1885 J. Wray in Chr. Herald 22 Apr. 224/2 To give her view of things with her usual perspicacity, and with a striking emphasis into the bargain.

8. Comb., as bargain-driving. † bargain-penny, money paid ‘on account,’ by way of ratification of a bargain; † Bargain-Saturday, a hiring-day for servants; bargain-wise adv., in the manner of a bargain; bargain-work (dial.), see quot.

1902 Spectator 27 Dec. 1023/2 Some men are, it might almost be said, victims of the habit of bargain-driving. 1930 T. S. Eliot tr. St.-J. Perse's Anabasis 69 Manœuvres over field to ravish a woman, bargain-driving and plots. 1490 Churchw. Acc. St. Dunstan's Canterb., Payde..a bargayn peny for the whyte lymyng of owr Churche. 1796 Pegge Anonym. (1809) 266 Earnest money, earnest penny, or bargain penny. 1860 E. Venables Isle of Wight 61 Three ‘Bargain Saturdays’ were held at Michaelmas for hiring servants. a 1679 T. Goodwin Wks. (1863) V. 28 We find this very covenant bargain-wise. 1851 Coal-tr. Terms Northumbld. & Durh. 8 Bargain-work, work..let by proposal, amongst the workmen at a colliery, to the lowest offer.

▪ II. † ˈbargain, n.² Obs. exc. dial.
[? same word as prec.]
A small farm-holding.

1602 Carew Cornwall 37 a, A farme, or (as wee call it) a bargaine can no sooner fall in hand, then the Survey Court shall be waited on. 1824 Miss Mitford Village Ser. i. (1863) 81 What used to be called in this part of the country ‘a little bargain’: thirty or forty acres, perhaps, of arable land, which the owner and his sons cultivated themselves. 1881 I. Wight Gloss. Bargun..a farm of small holding.

▪ III. bargain, v.
    (ˈbɑːgɪn)
    Forms: 4 bargeyne, 4–5 -gane, 4–6 -gayne, 5 -gan, -geyn, 7 -gaine, 6– bargain.
    [a. OF. bargaigne-r = Pr. barganhar, It. bargagnare:—late L. barcāneāre, barcāniāre (in Capit. Charles the Bald), which Diez proposes to refer (through *barcāne-us: see bargain n.¹) to barca ‘a bark or barge, which,’ according to the definition of Isidore, ‘carries goods to and fro’; thence might arise the sense either of ‘go backwards and forwards, come and go as to a matter, be off and on’ (cf. mod.F. barguigner to hesitate, have difficulty in making up one's mind), or of ‘trade, traffic, deal.’ But difficulties attend both form- and sense-development; and the order of senses here followed is purely empirical.]
    1. intr. To treat with any one as to the terms which one party is to give, and the other to accept, in a transaction between them; to try to secure the best possible terms; to haggle over terms.

c 1375 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. 1871 II. 213 It is an open foly to bargayne wiþ preestis for siche preier. c 1380 ― Wks. (1880) 472 Cardenals ben brouȝt yn bi antichrist to bargeyne bi symonye. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. cxviii. [cxiv.] 339 We cannot both bargayne and bye all in one daye. 1611 Cotgr., Barguigner, to chaffer; to bargaine; or (more properly) to wrangle, dodge, haggle..in the making of a bargaine. 1634 Preston New Covt. 89 They will bargaine with the Lord, he will give thee this particular, thou shalt have this. 1701 Penn in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem. IX. 56 No man living can defend us or bargain for us better than myself. 1859 Jephson Brittany ix. 136 Judas bargaining with the priests.

2. a. To agree to terms asked and offered; to arrange terms, come to terms; to stipulate; to make or strike a bargain, with a person, for a thing.

1483 Cath. Angl. 21/1 To bargan, pacisci. 1536 MS. in Thynne Animadv. Introd. 28 John Wylkynson..hath convenanted and bargayned with Edmunde Pekham. 1578 T. N. tr. Conq. W. India 20 He..bargained with one Fernando Alfonso, for certaine Hogges. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. i. 231 While his owne Lands are bargain'd for, and sold. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 511 ¶3 A merchant..bargained for it, and carried it off. 1751 Lady Montague Lett. 56 III. 101 The marble was bespoke and the sculptor [was] bargained with. 1876 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. I. i. ii. 100 The Bishop..acted for the Christians, and bargained for nothing more than their lives.

b. with inf. or subord. clause.

1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. ii. i. 307 'Tis bargain'd..That she shall still be curst in company. 1787 P. Jones in Sparks Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853) IV. 192, I..have bargained to be landed in France. 1878 Simpson School Shaks. I. 46 Bagnall..bargained to sell his estates.

3. fig. to bargain for: to arrange for beforehand, to include in one's reckoning, arrangements, expectations, or forecast; to count on, expect.

1801 Jane Austen Let. 3 Jan. (1952) 103 My Mother bargains for having no trouble at all in furnishing our house in Bath. 1840 Marryat Olla Podr. (Rtldg.) 330 More wind than we bargained for. 1856 Lever Martins Cro' M. 277, I never bargained to dispute against such odds as this. 1883 Froude Short Stud. IV. i. vii. 79 In accepting Henry's money they had not bargained for exposure.

† 4. a. trans. To agree to buy or sell; to contract for. Obs. exc. in legal phr. to bargain and sell.

1488–9 Act. 4 Hen. VII, xl, No..person..[shall] bye or bargeyn..any wollez than unshorne. a 1716 South in Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. ix. 16 The wages that sin bargains with the sinner are life, pleasure, and profit. 1768 [see bargainor]. 1876 [see bargainee].

b. to bargain away: to part with, or lose, as the result of a bargain.

1868 Geo. Eliot F. Holt 7 The heir..had somehow bargained away the estate.

† 5. (Sc.) To contend, strive, struggle, fight. Obs.

1375 Barbour Bruce ix. 224 To bargane with his Enymyss. c 1470 Henry Wallace x. 516 We sall bargane be nyne houris to morn. 1513 Douglas æneis iii. iv. 52 Tak thair wapnis, and bargane every man Agane thai cruell peple.