a purchase to one's advantage, esp. at less than the usual cost.
an agreement between parties:made a bargain to take turns driving.
v.
to discuss the terms of a bargain; negotiate: [no object]bargained skillfully.[~ + with +object]Management bargained with labor.[~ + for + object]She might bargain for custody of the children.
bargain on or for[~ + on/for + object] to expect to get; anticipate receiving:She got more than she bargained for when she married him.
Idioms
drive a hard bargain, to argue very hard to get a favorable agreement.
Idiomsin or into the bargain, in addition; besides.
an advantageous purchase, esp. one acquired at less than the usual cost:The sale offered bargains galore.
an agreement between parties settling what each shall give and take or perform and receive in a transaction.
such an agreement as affecting one of the parties:a losing bargain.
something acquired by bargaining.
Informal Termsan agreeable person, esp. one who causes no trouble or difficulty (usually used in negative constructions):His boss is no bargain.
Idiomsin or into the bargain, over and above what has been stipulated; moreover; besides:The new housekeeper proved to be a fine cook in the bargain.
Idiomsstrike a bargain, to make a bargain; agree to terms:They were unable to strike a bargain because the owner's asking price was more than the prospective buyer could afford.
v.i.
to discuss the terms of a bargain; haggle; negotiate.
to come to an agreement; make a bargain:We bargained on a three-year term.
v.t.
to arrange by bargain; negotiate:to bargain a new wage increase.
to anticipate as likely to occur; expect (usually fol. by a clause):I'll bargain that he's going to give those company directors plenty of trouble.
bargain for, to anticipate or take into account:The job turned out to be more than he had bargained for.
bargain on, to expect or anticipate; count or rely on:You can't bargain on what she'll do in this situation.
Anglo-French, Old French bargai( g)ne, bargain, noun, nominal derivative of the verb, verbal; oa in 1st syllable is unexplained
Frankish *borganjan, extended form of Gmc *borgan (compare Old High German bor(a)gēn to look after, Middle High German, German borgen to lend, borrow); (noun, nominal) Middle English bargayn
Anglo-French, Old French bargai( g)ner, probably
(verb, verbal) Middle English bargaynen 1300–50
bar′gain•a•ble, adj. bar′gain•er, n.
2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged stipulation, arrangement, transaction. See agreement.
8.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See trade.
9.See corresponding entry in Unabridged contract, covenant.
an agreement or contract establishing what each party will give, receive, or perform in a transaction between them
something acquired or received in such an agreement
something bought or offered at a low price
(as modifier): a bargain price
into the bargain, in the bargain ⇒ in excess of what has been stipulated; besides
make a bargain, strike a bargain ⇒ to agree on terms
(intransitive)to negotiate the terms of an agreement, transaction, etc
(transitive)to exchange, as in a bargain
to arrive at (an agreement or settlement)
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French bargaigne, from bargaignier to trade, of Germanic origin; compare Medieval Latin barcāniāre to trade, Old English borgian to borrowˈbargainerˈbargaining,
'at a bargain' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):