Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Bargain?

\Bar"gain\, n. [OE. bargayn, bargany, OF. bargaigne, bargagne, prob. from a supposed LL. barcaneum, fr. barca a boat which carries merchandise to the shore; hence, to traffic to and fro, to carry on commerce in general. See {Bark} a vessel. ] 1. An agreement between parties concerning the sale of property; or a contract by which one party binds himself to transfer the right to some property for a consideration, and the other party binds himself to receive the property and pay the consideration. A contract is a bargain that is legally binding. --Wharton. 2. An agreement or stipulation; mutual pledge. And whon your honors mean to solemnize The bargain of your faith. --Shak. 3. A purchase; also ( when not qualified), a gainful transaction; an advantageous purchase; as, to buy a thing at a bargain. 4. The thing stipulated or purchased; also, anything bought cheap. She was too fond of her most filthy bargain. --Shak. {Bargain and sale} (Law), a species of conveyance, by which the bargainor contracts to convey the lands to the bargainee, and becomes by such contract a trustee for and seized to the use of the bargainee. The statute then completes the purchase; i. e., the bargain vests the use, and the statute vests the possession. --Blackstone. {Into the bargain}, over and above what is stipulated; besides. {To sell bargains}, to make saucy (usually indelicate) repartees. [Obs.] --Swift. {To strike a bargain}, to reach or ratify an agreement. ``A bargain was struck.'' --Macaulay. Syn: Contract; stipulation; purchase; engagement.
\Bar"gain\, v. i. [OE. barganien, OF. bargaigner, F. barguigner, to hesitate, fr. LL. barcaniare. See {Bargain}, n.] To make a bargain; to make a contract for the exchange of property or services; -- followed by with and for; as, to bargain with a farmer for a cow. So worthless peasants bargain for their wives. --Shak.
\Bar"gain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bargained} (?); p. pr. & vb. n. {Bargaining}.] To transfer for a consideration; to barter; to trade; as, to bargain one horse for another. {To bargain away}, to dispose of in a bargain; -- usually with a sense of loss or disadvantage; as, to bargain away one's birthright. ``The heir . . . had somehow bargained away the estate.'' --G. Eliot.