discount English · revision 5786

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1622|origins=fr descompte}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɪs.kaʊnt/ (noun), /dɪˈskaʊnt/ (verb)^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[bor|fr|descompte]] (modern décompte), altered under the influence of English [[dis-]] and [[count]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Old French descont, from [[m|fro|desconter|t=to count out, reckon off]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-med|discomputāre]], from [[m|la|dis-|t=away]] and [[m|la|computāre|t=to reckon]] (see [[compute]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The commercial senses were probably influenced by Italian (di)scontare.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An abatement or deduction from an amount: 1622 in the OED, Barnhart and MWU.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to reckon as a deduction, is from 1629, formerly also spelled discompt.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The commercial noun, a deduction for prompt payment, is from 1690 (the 1680s in Etymonline), and the deduction made when a bill of exchange is bought before it falls due from 1683.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''At a discount'', below par, is from 1701.^(OED 1989) To believe only part of a story, to leave out of account, is from the early 1700s, 1702 in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A reduction in the price of goods is attested by 1837.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1622 – an abatement.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1629 – the verb, to deduct.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1683 – discounting bills.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1701 – ''at a discount''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1702 – to disregard.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1837 – a price reduction.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A reduction in the usual [[price]] of something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A deduction from the amount of a bill or [[debt]], for example for prompt payment.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To consider something unimportant or unlikely, and leave it out of account.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To take an amount off the price of something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To buy or sell a bill of [[exchange]] at a reduction before it falls due.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[discountable]]

+ * [[discounter]]

+ * [[nondiscount]]

+ * [[overdiscount]]

+ * [[prediscount]]

+ * [[undiscountable]]

+ * [[rediscount]]

+ * [[trade discount]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[count]]

+ * [[account]]

+ * [[compute]]

+ * [[recount]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}