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.
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 (&?;), 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.
Hear it pronounced