buy
/baɪ/
verb
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*bugjaną — to buy
Overview
Meaning Now
- To obtain something in exchange for payment.
- To believe or accept something as true.
- To bribe or influence someone.
Literal older meaning
to procure or obtain by paying
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
bycgan
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The verb descends directly from West Germanic roots. Interestingly, while 'buy' took over as the primary term for purchase, other Old English terms like 'ceapian' (the source of 'cheap') were originally used in similar contexts involving trade and markets.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*bugjaną
“to buy”
- Old English
bycgan
“to buy, purchase, pay for”
- Middle English
buggen
“to acquire for money”
- Modern English
buy
“to purchase”
Connections
Word parts
buy
root
procure for payment
Related across languages
Old Saxon
buggian
to buy
Gothic
bugjan
to buy
Explore next
Related to buy
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.