buy English · revision 2503

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Old English (bycgan)|origins=gem-pro *bugjan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /baɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|byen]] (also [[m|enm|biggen]]), [[inh|ang|bycgan|t=to get by paying for; to redeem, ransom]] (past tense [[m|ang|bohte]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*bugjan]],^(Etymonline) which is of unknown origin and not found outside Germanic.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) Merriam-Webster suggests it may be akin to [[goh|biogan|t=to bend]].^(MWU 2024) Its relatives include [[osx|buggian|t=to buy]] and [[non|byggja|t=to lend, let out]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To get by paying for; to redeem, ransom; to procure: Old English ''bycgan''.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old and Middle English the word was pronounced with the ''dg'' sound of ''bridge'', like “budge” or “bidge”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The modern spelling comes from a south-western dialect form, ''buggen'' (about 1175) and ''buyen'' (about 1300), and did not become standard until the end of the 16th century.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) ''Buyer'' is from 1303, in Mannyng.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, “a purchase”, especially a good one, is American, from 1875^(Etymonline) or 1879, first in stock-market use.^(Barnhart 1988)^(HTOED) “To believe, accept as true” is from 1926.^(Etymonline) ''Buy time'' is from 1946.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1175 – ''buggen'' (south-western dialect).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – Middle English ''biggen''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1303 – ''buyer'' (Mannyng).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 16th century – the spelling ''buy'' becomes standard.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1879 – noun, a bargain.^(Barnhart 1988)^(HTOED)

+ * 1926 – to believe.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1946 – ''buy time''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To get in exchange for money; to [[purchase]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To be enough to purchase: ''money can't buy happiness''.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # To obtain by sacrifice or exchange.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To [[bribe]].^(AHD)

+ # ''(informal)'' To believe or accept: ''I don't buy it''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something bought; a purchase.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A [[bargain]].^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[buyable]]

+ * [[buyer]]

+ * [[buyout]]

+ * [[buy boat]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aby]]

+ * [[bought]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}