bargain

to anticipate as likely to occur; expect (usually followed by a clause): I'll bargain that he's going to give those company directors plenty of trouble.

Verb phrases

10.

bargain for, to anticipate or take into account: The job turned out to be more than he had bargained for.

11.

bargain on, to expect or anticipate; count or rely on: You can't bargain on what she'll do in this situation.

Idioms

12.

in/into the bargain, over and above what has been stipulated; moreover; besides: The new housekeeper proved to be a fine cook in the bargain.

13.

strike 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.

Origin:
1300–50; (v.) Middle English bargaynen < Anglo-French, Old French bargai(g)ner, probably < Frankish *borganjan, extended form of Germanic *borgan (compare Old High German bor(a)gēn to look after, Middle High German, German borgen to lend, borrow); (noun) Middle English bargayn < Anglo-French, Old French bargai(g)ne, bargain, noun derivative of the v.; o > a in 1st syllable is unexplained

Related forms

bar·gain·a·ble, adjective

bar·gain·er, noun

out·bar·gain, verb (used with object)

pre·bar·gain, verb (used with object)

pro·bar·gain·ing, adjective

un·bar·gained, adjective

Synonyms
2. stipulation, arrangement, transaction. See agreement. 6. See trade. 7. contract, covenant.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary

bargain (ˈbɑːɡɪn)

—n
1.	an agreement or contract establishing what each party will give, receive, or perform in a transaction between them
2.	something acquired or received in such an agreement
3.	(US)
	a. something bought or offered at a low price: a bargain at an auction
	b. (as modifier): a bargain price
4.	into the bargain, in the bargain in excess of what has been stipulated; besides
5.	make a bargain, strike a bargain to agree on terms

—vb
6.	(intr) to negotiate the terms of an agreement, transaction, etc
7.	(tr) to exchange, as in a bargain
8.	to arrive at (an agreement or settlement)

[C14: from Old French bargaigne, from bargaignier to trade, of Germanic origin; compare Medieval Latin barcāniāre to trade, Old English borgian to borrow]

'bargainer

—n

'bargaining

—n, —*adj*

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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

bargain

early 14c., from O.Fr. bargaignier (12c., Mod.Fr. barguigner) "to haggle over the price," perhaps from Frankish *borganjan "to lend," and ultimately from P.Gmc. *borgan (cf. O.H.G. borgen; O.E. borgian, source of borrow). Another suggestion is that the O.Fr. word comes from

L.L. barca "a barge," because it "carries goods to and fro." There are difficulties with both suggestions. A bargain basement (1899) originally was a basement floor in a store where bargains were displayed.

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

bargain

In addition to the idiom beginning with bargain, also see drive a bargain; into the bargain; make the best of it (a bad bargain); more than one bargained for; strike a bargain.