[a. late AF. vendor, earlier vendour (F. vendeur), agent-noun from vendre VEND v. Cf. VENDER.] One who disposes of a thing by sale; a seller.
Orig. Law, and still the regular spelling in legal use.
1594. West, 2nd Pt. Symbol., § 59. If the writ of covenant be brought against all the vendors by all the vendees.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 131. It is true indeed … that then such vendor does equally to all sellers, and in exchanging observes arithmetical proportion.
1670. [see VENDEE].
a. 1692. Pollexfen, Disc. Trade (1697), A 6. From the first Buyer to the last Vendor.
1766. Blackstone, Comm., II. 447. Where the vendor hath in himself … the property of the thing sold.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 30. The vendor would immediately have become a trustee for the purchaser.
1862. Burton, Bk. Hunter (1863), 4. The vendors of quack medicines and cosmetics are aware of the power of Greek nomenclature.
1891. M. Williams, Later Leaves, v. 63. A well-known … vendor of ladies’ hats and bonnets.
transf. 1887. Pall Mall G., 30 March, 2/2. The automatic vendor has become an institution in our midst.
attrib. 1896. Westm. Gaz., 9 May, 6/2. The vendor company is now selling the business to a public company.
