Forms: 4 bargayn, -geyne, 4–6 -gan(e, -gayn(e, 4–7 gaine, 5 bergayne, bargen, -geyn, 6 bergan, bargyn, -gin, 6– bargain. [a. OF. bargaine, also bargaigne, -gagne, -caigne = Pr., Pg. barganha (cf. Pr. barganh, It. bargagno), pointing to a late L. form *barcāneum, -a: see BARGAIN v. The etymology being obscure, the development of meaning is also doubtful.]
† 1. Discussion between two parties of the terms on which one is to give or do something to or for the other; chaffering; bargaining. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 270. Þe cardinals … Oft for þe pes with Philip mad bergayn.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 189. Bargeyns [C. bargeynes] and beuerages bi-gonne to aryse.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 24. Bargayne, licitacio, stipulacio.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. i. 139. In the way of Bargaine … Ile cauill on the ninth part of a hayre.
† b. To beat a (the) bargain: to bargain, haggle.
1664. Killigrew, Parson’s Wed., III. v. To beat a bargain for a score of sheep.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 14 Aug. With a little beating the bargain, we come to a perfect agreement.
2. An agreement between two parties settling how much each gives and takes, or what each performs and receives, in a transaction between them; a compact.
c. 1340. Cursor M. (Trin.). 16490. Al for nouȝt … þe bargan made hit is.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 502. This bargaine is ful-drive … ye shul be paied trewely.
1464. Mann. & Househ. Exp., 261. In party of payment off theyr bargeyn … v. marc. xxd.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 19. A bargain is a bargain, and must stand without all excepcion.
1597. Bacon, Good & Evil (1862), 266. The second blow makes the fray, The second word makes the bargaine.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 134. I loue you … so clap hands, and a bargaine.
1674. Owen, Holy Spirit (1693), 93. An Earnest is the Confirmation of a Bargain and Contract made.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Cinnamon & Pearls, v. 92. The colony will not long fulfil its part in this unequal bargain.
b. Sometimes applied to what one of the parties has contracted or stipulated to do or receive; or to the aspect of the compact towards one of the parties, e.g., a ‘bad bargain.’
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), IV. xxi. 224. The seller putteth in his bargayne that he may bye again his herytage.
1593. Tell-trothe’s N. Y. Gift, 33. Whosoever … is bound to a bad bargain.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1638), 221. The best bargaine they could make therein.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 473. The buyer may condemn the seller if the cattel be not so good as his bargain.
1769. Junius Lett., v. 28. This is the losing bargain.
3. That which is acquired by bargaining; a purchase regarded in the light of its proving advantageous or the reverse; without qualification, an advantageous purchase.
1352. [see 7.]
1516. Churchw. Acc. St. Marg. (Nicholls), 8. Given to the broker that did help us to the bargain of the barneston, 4d.
a. 1619. Fletcher, Wit without M., V. 163. Before I buy a bargain of such Runts, I’le buy a Colledge for Bears.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 144. How may I get a good bargain?
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xii. I had them a dead bargain, or I should not have bought them.
1812. Examiner, 13 Sept., 591/2. They should not trust too much to buying bargains, as they will often meet, as in the present instance, with many blind ones.
1882. Pebody, Eng. Journalism, xv. 110. A couple of books … which he had picked up as a bargain.
4. transf. A transaction that entails consequences, especially unpleasant ones; a (bad or unfortunate) ‘business.’ arch. or Obs.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 4932. Youthe gynneth ofte siche bargeyne, That may not eende withouten peyne.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xv. (1483), 63. One of vs thre must abye this bargeyn.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 22. That bargan may they ban, That ille has done.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., I. iii. (1695), 20. God … would certainly make it a very ill Bargain to the Transgressor.
† 5. Contention or contest for the mastery; struggle, combat, fight, battle. north. Obs.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VII. 221. He helpit hym swa in that bargane, That thai thre tratouris he has slane.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, VI. 2502. Soche bargens are bytter, þat hafe a bare ende.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IV. Prol. 69. The meik hartis in belling … Mak fers bargane.
1556. Lauder, Tractate, 458. Thay suld be fre … Frome toulȝe, bergane, and debait.
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XIV. xc. (1612), 365. On Brudus side the better of that bloudie bargaine went.
† b. fig. Bout, struggle, stour. Obs.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 225. As in hard bargaines of trauell it often hapneth … to Women.
6. Law. Bargain and sale. (See quots.)
1602. Fulbecke, 1st. Pt. Parall., 13. When an imperfect bargaine and sale is to bee perfited, the bargainee dooth not take the profites.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 37. By such a bargaine and sale, lands may passe without livery of seisin, if the bargaine and sale bee by deed indented, sealed, and inrolled.
1876. Digby, Real Prop., vi. 293. A bargain and sale was where the legal owner entered into an agreement with a purchaser for the sale to him of his interest, and the purchaser paid, or promised to pay, the money for the land.
7. Phrases. Dutch or wet bargain: one concluded by the parties drinking together. Into (to obs.) the bargain: over and above what is stipulated or expected; moreover, besides. † To buy the bargain dear, (ellipt.) to buy the bargain: to pay dearly for a thing. † To sell any one a bargain: to make a fool of him, to ‘sell’ him. To strike (up obs.) a bargain: to come to terms over a purchase. To be off one’s bargain: to be released from an engagement. To make the best of a bad bargain: to make the best of adverse circumstances.
1352. Minot, Poems, vi. (1795), 28. Fro thai met with Inglismen, All thaire bargan dere thai boght.
1530. Palsgr., 455/1. I bye the bargayne, or I fele the hurte … Le marché me cuit.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., III. i. 102. The Boy hath sold him a bargaine.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 473. If these things be true, then I will strike up the bargain.
1636. Ariana, 55. An excellent meanes to revenge him on … Palamede, and to have Ariana to the bargaine.
1640. Brathwait, Boulster Lect., 81. You may suspect mee that I relate these purposely to sell you a Bargaine.
1650. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., 21. Before the bargaine be stricken.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. i. 45. He paid much too dear for his Wife’s Fortune, by taking her Person into the bargain.
1678. Otway, Friendship in F., 16. I hate a Dutch Bargain that’s made in heat of Wine.
1727. Pope, etc., Art of Sinking, xii. The principal branch of the Alamode is the PRURIENT.… It consists … of … selling of Bargains, and double Entendre.
1729. Franklin, Ess., Wks. 1840, II. 31. What baser wretch first corrupted him, and then bought the bargain.
1753. Scots Mag., July, 359/1. The bargain is to be struck at 700,000 florins.
1767. Gray, in Corr. Nicholls (1843), 68. I should have been glad to hear your uncles were off their bargain.
1790. Boswell, Johnson (1811), II. 341. Mrs. Thrale was all for … according to the vulgar phrase, ‘making the best of a bad bargain.’
1805. Windham, Speeches (1812), II. 271. The recruit took the condition of a soldier, with a guinea to make it a wet bargain.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xvii. 7. Men had made up their minds to submit to what they could not help, and to make the best of a bad bargain.
1885. J. Wray, in Chr. Herald, 22 April, 224/2. To give her view of things with her usual perspicacity, and with a striking emphasis into the bargain.
8. Comb., as bargain-hunting; also † bargain-penny, money paid ‘on account,’ by way of ratification of a bargain; † bargain-Saturday, a hiring-day for servants; bargain-wise adv., in the manner of a bargain; bargain-work (dial.), see quot.
1792. Mary Wollstonecr., Rights Wom., iv. 166. Those English women whose time is spent in … shopping, bargain-hunting.
1884. C. Dickens, Dict. Lond., 82/1. People bargain-hunting in this market.
1490. Churchw. Acc. St. Dunstan’s Canterb. Payde … a bargayn peny for the whyte lymyng of owr Churche.
1796. Pegge, Anonym. (1809), 266. Earnest money, earnest penny, or bargain penny.
1860. E. Venables, Isle of Wight, 61. Three ‘Bargain Saturdays’ were held at Michaelmas for hiring servants.
a. 1679. T. Goodwin, Wks. (1863), V. 28. We find this very covenant bargain-wise.
1851. Coal-tr. Terms Northumbld. & Durh., 8. Bargain-work, work … let by proposal, amongst the workmen at a colliery, to the lowest offer.
