The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
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A contract is a bargain that is legally binding.
--Wharton.
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2. An agreement or stipulation; mutual pledge.
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And whon your honors mean to solemnize
The bargain of your faith. --Shak.
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3. A purchase; also ( when not qualified), a gainful
transaction; an advantageous purchase; as, to buy a thing
at a bargain.
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4. The thing stipulated or purchased; also, anything bought
cheap.
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She was too fond of her most filthy bargain. --Shak.
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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.
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Syn: Contract; stipulation; purchase; engagement.
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