buy

Etymology

From Middle English byen, from Old English bycġan (“to buy, pay for, acquire, redeem, ransom, procure, get done, sell”), from Proto-West Germanic *buggjan, from Proto-Germanic *bugjaną (“to buy”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *bʰūgʰ- (“to bend”), or from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeugʰ- (“to take away, deliver”). Cognate with Scots by (“to buy, purchase”), obsolete Dutch beugen (“to buy”), Old Saxon buggian, buggean (“to buy”), Old Norse byggja (“to build, settle”), Gothic 𐌱𐌿𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽 (bugjan, “to buy”). The spelling with “u” is from the Southwest, while the pronunciation with /aɪ/ is from the East Midlands.

verb

1. (transitive, ditransitive) To obtain (something) in exchange for money or goods.
   I'm going to buy my father something nice for his birthday.
   Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou wilt sell thy necessaries. 1793, Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography
2. (transitive, ditransitive) To obtain, especially by some sacrifice.
   I've bought material comfort by foregoing my dreams.
   You just bought yourself an assault charge!
3. (transitive, archaic) To suffer consequences for (something) through being deprived of something; to pay for (something one has done).
4. (transitive) To bribe.
   He tried to buy me with gifts, but I wouldn't give up my beliefs.
5. (transitive) To be equivalent to in value.
   The dollar doesn't buy as much as it used to.
6. (transitive, informal) to accept as true; to believe
   I'm not going to buy your stupid excuses anymore!
   People like to say that dead people look asleep, and maybe she would have bought that under different circumstances. 2020, Akwaeke Emezi, The Death of Vivek Oji, Faber & Faber Ltd, page 201
7. (intransitive) To make a purchase or purchases, to treat (for a drink, meal or gift)
   She buys for Federated.
   Let's go out for dinner. I'm buying.
8. (poker slang, transitive) To make a bluff, usually a large one.
   Smith tried to buy the pot on the river with a huge bluff

noun

1. Something which is bought; a purchase.
   At only $30, the second-hand kitchen table was a great buy.