selln.1
/sɛl/, U.S. /sɛl/ Now only archaic.† 1. A seat, a low stool; a seat of dignity. joint sell = joint-stool n. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > seat > [noun]
settlec897
siege?c1225
daisa1330
sitting placea1382
sellc1384
seata1400
seea1413
session1412
mastaba1603
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > seat > stool > [noun] > low
sellc1384
coppy14..
buffet1432
cricket1559
cracket1635
creepie1661
crock1709
donkey1943
donkey stool1945
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Macc. xiv. 21 To eche sellis [L. sellæ], or smale setis, ben brouȝt forth and putt.
c1425 Cast. Persev. 1749 in Macro Plays 129 Heyl, set in þyn selle!
1531 in H. Littlehales Medieval Rec. London City Church (1905) 37 Item, iiij Joyntes scells, at iiij d the pesse. Some xvj d.
1627 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia (new ed.) iii. 114 But empty stand those honor'd Sells.
2. A saddle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [noun] > saddle
saddleOE
arsonc1330
sellc1425
girth1706
saddlery1711
suggan1722
straddle1825
pigskin1839
c1425 Thomas Erceld. 49 Hir selle it was of roelle bone.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. viii. sig. T7 Yet was the force so furious and so fell, That horse and man it made to reele asyde; Nath'lesse the Prince would not forsake his sell.
1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne vi. xxxii. 100 Downe from his steed the Christian backward fell; Yet his proud foe so strong and sturdie was, That he nor shooke, nor staggered in his cell.
1803 in W. Scott Minstrelsy Sc. Border (ed. 2) III. 392 From gory selle, and reeling steed, Sprung the fierce horseman with a bound.
1855 P. J. Bailey Mystic 140 Then to horse; the gallant knighthood lift their ladies to the sells.
1885 R. F. Burton tr. Arabian Nights' Entertainm. I. xx. 198 He bade one of his pages saddle him his Nubian mare-mule with her padded selle.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
selln.2
/sɛl/, U.S. /sɛl/ 1. An act of betraying or giving up to justice.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > treachery or treason > treacherous action > [noun] > of confidence or trust
betrayal1826
sell1838
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > betrayal > [noun]
trechettingc1330
traisementc1380
betrayinga1382
betraisingc1385
trayment1468
tradition1483
betrayment1548
betray1600
betrayal1817
sell1838
backstabbing1855
ratting1946
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist II. xxvi. 100 I say,..what a time this would be for a sell! I've got Phil Barker here, so drunk that a boy might take him.
2. slang.
a. A contrivance, fiction, etc., by which a person is ‘sold’: a planned deception, hoax, take-in. Also, something that utterly disappoints high expectations.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > [noun] > instance of
braida1000
fraudc1374
mock1523
brogue1537
flim-flamc1538
imposture1548
lie1560
cozening1576
smoke-hole1580
gullery1598
gull1600
cog1602
coggery1602
fraudulency1630
imposition1632
cheat1649
fourbery1650
prestige1656
sham1677
crimp1684
bite1711
humbug1750
swindle1778
hookum-snivey1781
shim-sham1797
gag1805
intake1808
racket1819
wooden nutmeg1822
sell1838
caper1851
skin game1879
Kaffir bargain1899
swizzle1913
swizz1915
put-on1919
ready-up1924
rort1926
jack-up1945
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > disappointment > [noun] > that which disappoints
apple of Sodom1635
disappointment1843
suck-in1856
anticlimax1858
sell1890
lemon1909
damp squib1963
1838 Actors by Daylight 4 Aug. 179 (heading) Editorial consequence—Specimens of wit—A decided sell.
1853 ‘C. Bede’ Adventures Mr. Verdant Green vii. 60 Mr. Verdant Green having ‘swallowed’ this, his friend was thereby enabled not only to use up old ‘sells’, but also to draw largely on his invention for new ones.
1857 T. P. Thompson Audi Alteram Partem (1858) I. ii. 5 The thing is what in the language of the turf is called a sell.
1890 R. F. D. Palgrave O. Cromwell xiv. 298 The Insurrection proved, in vulgar phrase, ‘a thorough sell’.
1898 R. Blakeborough Wit N. Riding Yorks. 79 The last sell I heard was sending a lad from one place to another for a bucket of steam.
b. The technique of selling by advertising or persuasive salesmanship; the practice or fact of this. Usually with qualifying word: cf. hard sell n.; soft sell n.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > [noun] > selling method or technique
sell1952
1952 Business Week 9 Aug. 40 A few months ago everyone had keyed himself up to the ‘hard sell’.
1970 G. Greer Female Eunuch 11 The main force of their energy filtered away..through the sexual sell of the fifties.
1976 V. J. Scott & D. Koski Walk-in (1977) xiii. 81 He was like an encyclopedia salesman moving into the soft, memorized sell.
3. (See quot. 1909.)
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > stocks, shares, or bonds > [noun] > stock > as likely to be profitable or not
sell1909
high-flyer1931
growth stock1957
growth leader1967
1909 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Sell,..a stock that should be sold. Stock Exchange Cant.
1981 Times 20 July 20/1 Cooke, Lumsden waver between a hold and sell recommendation for Dowty Group.
1981 Times 27 July 20/1 Woodside Petroleum is a sell.
1981 Sunday Times 2 Aug. 43/6 We rated them a sell ahead of the disappointing figures last month.
4. sell-out n. originally U.S.
a. An agreement or contract corruptly made by a public body, involving sacrifice of public to private interest. Also gen., (one who makes) a sacrifice of principle or betrayal.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > unfaithfulness > [noun] > being false to principles, etc.
betraying1678
sell-out1862
1862 M. B. Chesnut Diary 6 May in C. V. Woodward Mary Chesnut's Civil War (1981) xiv. 336 Another sellout to the devil. It is this giving up that kills me.
1883 J. Hay Bread-winners 151 How much did the Captain give you for that sell-out?
1890 Advance (Chicago) 1 Feb. 3 The proposed sell-out of the State of North Dakota to the infamous Louisiana Lottery Company.
1906 Tom Watson's Mag. Jan. 362 in Cent. Suppl. The Tariff Act..was an ungodly and unblushing sell-out to the Sugar Trust,..[and to] the greedy manufacturing interests generally.
1940 ‘G. Orwell’ Diary 24 June in Coll. Ess. (1968) II. 354 High-up influences in England are preparing for a similar sell-out [to Pétain's].
1953 Landfall (N.Z.) Dec. 283 This film could have ended with a punch; but this would have been running counter to the sacrosanct Hollywood tradition of the inevitable happy ending. So there is a sell-out.
1959 Economist 11 Apr. 134/2 Specially elected members (reference to whom the wilder parts of the audience had greeted with familiar African cries of ‘stooges’, ‘sell-outs’).
1960 J. F. Lehmann I am my Brother 4 A gigantic sell-out to the Nazis.
a1974 R. Crossman Diaries (1975) I. 182 Then Maurice Edelman made an inflammatory half-hour attack on the Government, charging me and Frank Cousins with every kind of crime, including a sell-out to the Americans.
1980 Times 19 Feb. 6 Mr. Robert Mugabe's Zanla guerrillas infiltrated the region..maiming or murdering those who were considered sell-outs.
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b. A card game otherwise called auction pitch: cf. pitch n.2 6b.
c. The disposal of a commodity because of great demand; also, a completely disposable commodity. Hence transferred, an event for which all tickets have been sold; the occasion of such an event.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > [noun] > fact of being sold > completely
sell-out1859
stock out1957
1859 N.Y. Herald 11 July 6/5 (advt.) Our goods shall be sold cheap!! In this great sellout.
1923 Variety 11 Oct. 17/4 Business at ‘Give and Take’ at the Adelphi was generally big last week... Wednesday..was a virtual sell-out.
1933 Sun (Baltimore) 29 Aug. 8/3 The [actor's] interpretation may not be art, and it may not even be O'Neill, but it may easily be a sellout and it will almost assuredly be entertaining.
1945 Sun (Baltimore) 27 Apr. 10-0/1 On a sharp sell-out of rails and steels after the opening, dealings were relatively heavy.
1945 S. Lewis Cass Timberlane (1947) xliii. 289 I have four tickets... They're absolutely impossible to get, show is a sell-out, but the agent is a friend of mine.
1950 Sport 22 Sept. 2/1 The Cup Final..is always a sell-out but crowds at other games are always below maximum.
1962 Listener 27 Dec. 1095/1 The shortage of shopping times for working people..causes overcrowding, queuing, poor service and sell~outs on Saturday.
1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 15 Jan. 17/2 A sellout crowd of 75,546 watched..Vince Lombardi's National Football League champions.
1977 Time 19 Dec. 41/2 Such delicacies are instant sellouts.
5. sell-off n. Stock Market (originally and chiefly U.S.). A sale or disposal of bonds, shares, or commodities, usually causing a fall in price.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > specific operations or arrangements > share-selling activities
share pushing1896
hedge selling1920
placing1922
sell-off1937
1937 Sun (Baltimore) 6 Feb. 19/1 The sell-off was less pronounced than that of the share market and was slower in developing.
1941 Sun (Baltimore) 16 Oct. 21/1 Adverse war news was blamed in most quarters for the selloff in stocks and commodities.
1958 Time 8 Dec. 98/3 The sell~off did not alarm most market experts.
1981 Times 21 May 24/1 The recent sell-off by a major institution has done much to cloud market sentiment.
Draft additions 1993
sell-in n. Marketing the sale of goods to retail traders, esp. at wholesale prices, prior to public retailing; wholesale selling. Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > [noun] > offering for sale > before public retailing
sell-in1961
1961 W. Sansom Last Hours of Sandra Lee vi. 125 It's a good product and a good campaign..but we seem to have jimmied the sell-in somehow.
1972 Times 8 May (Japan Suppl.) p. v/4 Britain achieved a sell-in in the shape of a 30 per cent increase in exports to Japan.
1979 P. Carey War Crimes in Fat Man in Hist. (1980) 170 They had had a highly successful sell-in of our existing lines of frozen meals.
1985 Chain Store Age: Gen. Merchandise Trends 61 123/3 The product must be available for sell-in and shipment prior to the movie's release. Retailers often take a wait-and-see attitude on movie product.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
sellv.
/sɛl/, U.S. /sɛl//səʊld/;α. Old English–Middle English sealde, Middle English sælde, Middle English seeld, Middle English seelde, Middle English zyalde (Kent). OE Genesis 857 Wiste forworhte þam he ær wlite sealde.a1175 Cott. Hom. 227 Þes cenne god sælde & ȝesette æ.c1315 Shoreham Poems i. 1287 He..bet out..Þo þat bouȝte and sealde ine godes hous.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 215 He wrek þo þe zyalde and boȝte ine þe temple. ▸ c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 309 Thei seelden possessiouns and catel.
β. Old English–Middle English salde, Middle English saald, Middle English sald, 1800s sauld (Scottish). c950 Lindisf. Gosp. John xix. 9 Uutudlice ondsuare ne salde him.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 15960 Þa menn þatt saldenn cullfress þær. a1400Saald [see sense 3a]. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3518 Esau his forbirth sald [Fairf. salde].c1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 1703 The ermyte..salde the skinnes that he broght.1562 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 6 The Disciplis..sauld thair landis.1600 J. Hamilton Facile Traictise 280 Whair euer the pape sauld indulgencis.
γ. Middle English soold, Middle English–1500s solde, Middle English– sold, 1500s soulde, 1600s–1700s (1800s dialect) sould. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 293 Þeas ofte as he euesede him salde his euesunge.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3550 As a wrecche he sold his eritage.1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Dviiv They solde their possessions.1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxxviii. 239 They soulde their possessions.1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes iii. 142 The first Christians..sould all, that they had.
δ. Middle English seld, Middle English selde, Middle English sellid, Middle English sillide, 1500s selled; dialect (see Eng. Dial. Dict.) 1500s seld, 1500s sell'd, 1500s selled; Scottish and northern 1500s sellt, 1500s sell't, 1500s selt. c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 286 He..selde al þat he hadde.c1440 Alphabet of Tales 64 Constancius..sellid his hors for xij d of gold.1451 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert 77 For he seld hem nowt. 1562Selled [see sense 3a].
3. Past participle.α. Old English seald, Middle English isæld, Middle English iseald, Middle English iseold, Middle English seeld. a1000 Psalms cxix. [cxx.] 3 Hwæt bið þe ealles seald..yflan tungan?c1175 Lamb. Hom. 13 And ȝe beoð iseald eower feonde to prisune.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 14702 Heo scolden beon iseolde.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5986 Seoððen þis world wes astald & monnen an honde isælde.a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Isa. xlii. 19 Who is blynd, no but he that is seeld [L. venundatus]?
β. Middle English isald, Middle English saald, Middle English sald, Middle English salde; Scottish Middle English–1500s sald, Middle English–1800s sauld, 1500s salde. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 14708 And we weoren ut isalde of Anglene londe.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 142 How þat ioseph was boght and sald.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 6755 He salle be salde.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4241 He was eftursons saald. 14881Sauld [see sense 7c]. 14882Sald [see sense 7c]. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 26 The fowlis..ar sent to the nerrest tounes to be salde.
γ. Middle English i-sold, Middle English i-solde, Middle English swolde, Middle English–1500s solde, Middle English– sold, 1600s soald, 1600s sould. 1382 [see sense 3e]. 1387 [see sense 3a]. c1451 in T. Wright Polit. Poems & Songs (1859) II. 230 Suffolk Normandy hath swolde.1615 R. Cocks Diary (1883) I. 68 Our pepper..was soald long since.1618 W. Raleigh in W. B. Scoones Four Cent. Eng. Lett. (1880) 38 I might elsewhere have sould my shipp and goods.
δ. Middle English celde ( Promp. Parv.), Middle English seld; Scottish 1500s sellit, 1700s–1800s seld, 1700s–1800s sell'd, 1700s–1800s selt; dialect 1800s selled. (See Eng. Dial. Dict.)a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 13182 Bot þis dede was seld ful dere. c1550Sellit [see sense 2a]. 1830 W. Scott Guy Mannering (rev. ed.) I. xii It will be sell'd the morn to the highest bidder.
The simple verb.† 1. transitive. To give v., in various senses; esp. to hand over (something, esp. food, a gift) voluntarily or in response to a demand or request; to deliver up (a person, esp. a hostage) to the keeping of another; to grant (forgiveness, etc.); also, rarely of an impersonal agent, to yield. (Chiefly Old English.)† 8. To cry up, praise, recommend (a person) as if a saleable commodity. Obsolete. rare. [= Latin vendere, venditare.] Phrase.1859 J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang 89 ‘Sold again, and got the money’, a costermonger cries after having successfully deceived somebody.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)] > hand over to another
i-taechec888
outreacheOE
sellc950
beteacha1000
areachc1000
turnc1175
handsellc1225
betakec1250
deliverc1300
beken1330
yielda1382
disposec1384
resigna1387
livera1400
to turn overa1425
deputea1440
overgive1444
quit?c1450
surrend1450
surrender1466
renderc1480
to give over1483
despose1485
refer1547
to pass over1560
to set over1585
behight1590
tip1610
consign1632
delegate1633
skink1637
to hand over1644
delate1651
to turn off1667
to turn in1822
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. vi. 11 Hlaf userne ofer wistlic sel us todæg.
OE Beowulf 1161 Byrelas sealdon win of wunderfatum.
c1000 Ælfric Exodus (Gr.) vi. 8 Þat land..ic sylle eow to agenne.
c1000 Ælfric Exodus xxii. 29 Sylle me þin forme bearn.
a1175 Cott. Hom. 223 And se eorðe his awiriȝd on þine weorcum, sylðe þornes and brembles.
a1200 12th Cent. Hom. 132 Ic ȝeafe heom mine milse; & sylle heom forȝefenesse.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 11867 Me salde [c1300 Otho tok] him an honde. enne scaft stronge.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6707 Vortiger heom salde [c1300 Otho solde]. al þat heo wolden.
c1275 Serving Christ 63 in Old Eng. Misc. 92 Seynt thomas wes biscop & barunes him quolde..For þe dute of þe dom he þet lif solde.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17042 And sua to mak vs ranscuning, for us him-self he sald.
2.
a. To give up (a person) treacherously to his enemies; to betray (a person, a cause, country, etc.).Chiefly, with mixture of sense 3, to betray for a price or in order to obtain some advantage for oneself. In early use often with reference to the betrayal of Christ by Judas.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > betrayal > betray [verb (transitive)]
sellc950
forredea1000
belewec1000
trechec1230
betrayc1275
trayc1275
wrayc1275
traise1320
trechetc1330
betradec1375
betraisec1386
bewray1535
betrantc1540
boil1602
reveal1640
peacha1689
bridge1819
to go back on (also upon)1859
to sell (a person) down the river1921
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. John vi. 71 Cuæð uutedlice iudam..ðes forðon uæs sellend hine [L. traditurus eum].
c1275 Passion our Lord 115 in Old Eng. Misc. 40 He com to þe Gywes..And chepte heom to sullen vre helare.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) v. 610 ‘Tratour’, he said, ‘thou has me sald’.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) viii. 57 Tha deserue as grite reproche as tha hed sellit traisonablye the realme to there enemeis.
1574 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara Familiar Epist. 241 In things of common libertie, he that shall seeme most to serue you, the same is he that most will sell you.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V ii. ii. 10 That he should for a forraine purse, to sell His Soueraignes life to death and trechery.
1654 tr. M. Martini Bellum Tartaricum 48 But when the Emperour had perused the Treatie, he presently found his Plenipotentiarian had sold him.
a1660 Aphorismical Discov. in J. T. Gilbert Contemp. Hist. Ireland (1879) I. 173 A Judas an Apostat merchant shellinge the same for money.
a1660 in J. T. Gilbert Contemp. Hist. Ireland (1880) II. 137 To shell the lives of his abetters.
1692 R. L'Estrange Fables cxxxii. 123 Those that Sell their Country..for Mony.
1792 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 644 We're bought and sold for English gold.
1816 ‘Quiz’ Grand Master ii. 36 Have you e're met a faithless friend, That sold you to effect his end?
1820 J. W. Croker in L. J. Jennings Croker Papers (1884) I. 172 Brougham, it is said, grossly, has sold the Queen.
1895 Wolseley in United Serv. Mag. Aug. 475 There can be no moral doubt..that there were traitors in the Turkish ranks, and that the Turkish Army was more or less sold.
b. transferred. Of a thing: To betray, ‘give away’, inform against.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] > secrets > prejudicially
wraya1300
bewrayc1386
descrya1400
blab1594
betray1598
sell1831
peach1852
1831 Ann. Reg., Law Cases (1832) 325/2 Bishop..said to May, ‘It was the blood that sold us’.
3. (The chief current sense.)figurative.1745 E. Young Complaint: Night the Eighth 39 Heaven Sells all Pleasure; Effort is the Price.
a. To give up or hand over (something) to another person for money (or something that is reckoned as money); esp. to dispose of (merchandise, possessions, etc.) to a buyer for a price; to vend. Const. †with, for (the price), †at, to (the buyer). Also, in habitual sense, of a shopkeeper, etc.: To deal in, keep for sale (a particular commodity).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > have for sale or sell habitually
sellc1000
keep1706
carry1866
stock1884
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)]
to sell awayc1230
to set to (for, on) sale, a-salec1275
sella1330
to make sale (of)c1430
market1455
to make penny of1464
vent1478
to put away1574
dispatch1592
money1598
vent1602
to put off1631
vend1651
hawk1713
realize1720
mackle1724
neat1747
to sell over1837
unload1884
flog1919
move1938
shift1976
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xii. 5 Hwi ne sealde heo þas sealfe wiþ þrim hundred penegon.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 91 And þa..fuleden þam apostles and salden heore ehte and þet feh bitahten þam apostles.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 15557 & he fand i þe temmple þær Well fele menn þatt saldenn. Þær inne baþe nowwt. & shep.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1495 ‘Broðer’, quad he [sc. Esau], ‘sel me ðo wunes’.
a1330 Roland & V. 386 Þe hors was seld..For to hundred schillinges.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VIII. 237 A busshel of corn was i-solde for twelf schillynges þat ȝere.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5407 Þai saald þair landes þan for nede.
c1440 Alphabet of Tales 216 He sellid a noder hors & spendid þe price þer-of.
1562 G. Legh Accedens of Armory (1597) 77 b So when they die, their wiues..selled for a little money, their books of visitations.
1574 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 424 The inhabitance..shall not..shell any kynd of flesh..to any of the bucheares.
1615 [see γ. forms]. a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) i. i. 153 Yet sell your face for fiue pence and 'tis deere. View more context for this quotation
1618 [see γ. forms]. 1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 84 There be but three Things, which one Nation selleth vnto another; The Commoditie as Nature yeeldeth it; The Manufacture; and the Vecture or Carriage.
1728 E. Young Love of Fame: Universal Passion (ed. 2) ii. 202 As pedlars with some hero's head make bold, Illustrious mark! where pins are to be sold.
1733 A. Pope Of Use of Riches 11 Last, for his country's love, he sells his lands.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth II. x. 239 I bought you some books, madam,..from a lame fellow who sold them in the Market-place.
1883 W. D. Howells Woman's Reason (new ed.) I. v. 98 The auctioneer intoned his chant..varied with a quick ‘Sold!’ as..he knocked off this lot or that.
1883 W. D. Howells Woman's Reason (new ed.) I. v. 106 I won't sell this property at that price.
b. To dispose of (one's commission in the army) by sale under the purchase system. Now historical. Also †to sell one's company, regiment, etc., and absol. (Cf. to sell out at Phrasal verbs below.)
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > appointment to rank > appoint to rank [verb (transitive)] > sell commission
sell1713
1713 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 8 Apr. (1948) II. 656 Lt Genrll Palmes will be obliged to sell his Regimt.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. i. x. 57 Having quarrelled with his Colonel, was by his Interest obliged to sell . View more context for this quotation
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond III. iv. 106 An old army acquaintance of Colonel Esmond's..had sold his company.
c. causatively. To promote the sale of.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > advertising > types or methods of advertising > [verb (transitive)] > promote the sale of or pre-sell
sell1709
pre-sell1845
1709 J. Swift Vindic. I. Bickerstaff 8 Or, perhaps, a Name can make an Almanack, as well as it can sell one.
1793 Trans. Soc. Arts 11 8 Every costermonger knows it is the fine fruit which sells the orchard.
d. Commerce. In passive with adverb: To have one's stock (well, etc.) disposed of.
ΚΠ
1882 Daily News 4 Mar. The market will be better later on in the season, and hence makers who are fairly sold are not much inclined to do business for forward delivery.
1898 Daily News 8 Nov. 2/7 Makers have but a small surplus to dispose of as they are well sold.
e. To hand over (a person, a people) into slavery or bondage for a sum of money. In Biblical use (after Hebrew) often merely (without reference to a price received), To hand over to the dominion of another, to enslave. Hence figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > selling or sale of specific things > sell specific things [verb (transitive)] > sell person into slavery
sella1000
society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > be slave of [verb (transitive)] > enslave > sell into slavery
sella1000
to sell (a person) down the river1836
a1000 Ælfric Genesis xxxvii. 27 Selre ys, þat we hine syllon to ceape Ysmahelitum.
1382 J. Wyclif Psalms civ. [cv.] 17 And into a thral Joseph is sold.
1388 J. Wyclif Psalms civ. [cv.] 17 Joseph was seeld in to a seruaunt.
1388 J. Wyclif Romans vii. 14 Sothli we witen, for the lawe is spiritual, or goostli; forsoth I am fleischly, sold vndir synne.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 215 Mi brother hath ous alle sold To hem of Rome.
c1400 Mirr. St. Edm. in Hampole's Wks. (Horstm.) I. 221 Whene þou was saulde with syne þan he boghte þe.
1576 Gude & Godlie B. 122 My Mother als did eik the same, And I to sin was sald.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Hippocrates in Panoplie Epist. 282 Othersome, being as it were bought & sould to that laborious kind of life, spend their days in that allotted torment of toile, as in their natural countrie.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Kings xvii. 17 And they..sold themselues to doe euill in the sight of the Lord. View more context for this quotation
1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. (Isa. l. 1) vii. 144 Behold, for your iniquities have you sold your selves.
1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. vii. 145 We must..see if we can leave it upon Adam. For did not he sell us many a fair year before we were in rerum naturâ?
1683 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) I. 63 He had sould a Servt to Henry Bowman.
1788 W. Cowper Negro's Compl. i Men from England bought and sold me, Paid my price in paltry gold.
f. to sell his soul, himself, etc., to the devil: to make a contract with the devil ensuring him possession of one's soul after death, as the price of his help in attaining some desired end. Also transferred of one who sacrifices conscience for worldly advantage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [verb (intransitive)] > sell one's soul to the Devil
to sell his soul, himself, etc., to the devil?c1570
?c1570 Buggbears v. ii, in R. W. Bond Early Plays from Italian (1911) 138 Tra. Loue youe money so well? Ame. What a question ys that? do not very manye sell their soules & all for monye?
1677 A. Horneck Great Law of Consideration iv. 125 They sell their Souls to the Devil, for 2, 3, or 400 l.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Lifted Veil i, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. July 35/1 It is an old story, that men sell themselves to the tempter, and sign a bond with their blood, because it is only to take effect at a distant day.
g. to sell down the river: see river n.1 Phrases 5b(a).
h. To advertise or publish the merits of (a commodity, idea, etc.); to persuade (a person) to accept or buy. Also, to convince (someone) of the worth of (something). (Variously with direct and indirect object.) colloquial (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade (someone) of the worth of something
sell1916
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > advertising > advertise [verb (transitive)]
push1693
advertise1710
promote1902
sell1916
market1922
merchandise1957
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > bring to belief, convince [verb (transitive)] > of something
persuadec1487
resolve1567
evict1594
credit1611
evince1621
secure1630
sell1916
sell1918
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade (someone) of the worth of something > persuade a person of the worth of
sell1916
1916 Amer. Mag. Mar. 50/1 I'd make my readers want to enlist. I'd ‘sell’ them the army.
1925 Publishers' Weekly 5 Dec. 1863 An advertising campaign to sell New York as the printing center of the world.
1926 Publishers' Weekly 22 May 1674/2 All of our publicity was phrased in the manner to sell the idea of giving books as presents.
1926 Publishers' Weekly 22 May 1687/1 Let us sell authors to our public.
1926 Publishers' Weekly 22 May 1710/1 Department store managers who wish to install an information desk should sell the store management the value of this information desk as a store service and not as a selling department.
1928 Publishers' Weekly 10 Nov. 1978/1 In his bookselling days he kept a blank book in which he set down..the names and preferences of the customers whom he had sold each day.
1930 Publishers' Weekly 8 Feb. 709/1 This advertising is followed up with reviews, special publicity stunts, selling the bookstore clerks, securing general trade enthusiasm.
1931 W. G. McAdoo Crowded Years iii. 41 I had to ‘sell’ the idea to men like the elder J. P. Morgan.
1938 E. Bowen Death of Heart iii. iii. 362 They forget Major Brutt has come here to get a job... Oh dear, oh dear, I shall never sell him at all.
1942 R.A.F. Jrnl. 2 May 30 My work—in horrid modern commercial terms—is to ‘sell’ the R.A.F. to the Army.
1951 H. MacInnes Neither Five nor Three i. v. 77 The people of France were sold such ideas as..‘Patriotism is for the rich’.
1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues xix. 177 It seemed like a crazy idea, but he sold me. And what's more important, he sold a lot of other people.
1960 Guardian 9 Nov. 6/4 We have to sell to the public the idea that being a foster mother is a service..to the community.
1976 J. I. M. Stewart Memorial Service iv. 60 It's just no good your trying to sell me those rotten dons.
i. Const. on. To make (someone) enthusiastic about, or convinced of the worth of, something. Frequently passive. colloquial (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > bring to belief, convince [verb (transitive)] > of something
persuadec1487
resolve1567
evict1594
credit1611
evince1621
secure1630
sell1916
sell1918
1918 Maclean's Mar. 52/2 The writer believes it is possible to finally ‘sell’ the Teutons on the advantages of peace as compared with war.
1926 Publishers' Weekly 30 Jan. 328/1 This book-dealer took a longer route by which to coax the dollars from the young man, first selling him on the significance of St. Valentine's Day to the lover.
1928 P. G. Wodehouse Money for Nothing vii. 133 Come to think of it. I'm not too sold on this thing, anyway.
1929 B. Hall & J. J. Niles One Man's War 114 After that Captain Bouche was surely sold on me as a pilot.
1930 Publishers' Weekly 10 May 2413/1 Every one of you can pick out a certain book, and if you are sold on it, there are people who will catch this enthusiasm.
1930 Publishers' Weekly 12 July 176/1 Farmers are not well informed about books and have not been sold..on buying and reading books.
1932 E. Wilson Devil take Hindmost x. 112 He rarely mentions Communism, but..he is as much sold on it as any..party member.
1948 Manch. Guardian Weekly 9 Dec. 8 He is not selling anybody on America.
1950 Newsweek 1 May 45/1 I am going to..sell her on the idea of picking up the option for another 25 years.
1969 L. Hellman Unfinished Woman xii. 177 He had been doing his thesis on modern American novelists... I tried hard to sell him on Faulkner and Fitzgerald.
1970 J. Earl How to choose Tuners & Amplifiers iii. 72 If you are sold on a medium price ceramic cartridge it would pay to look for an amplifier with a 2MΩ ceramic (piezo) input of around 50mV sensitivity.
1978 A. Price '44 Vintage iv. 46 I've never been absolutely sold on the classics.
j. reflexive use of sense 3h above.
ΚΠ
1938 L. Bemelmans Life Class i. v. 73 He told me that what was most important in life was..the ability to ‘sell’ oneself, to call [hotel] guests by their correct names and to remember their faces.
1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 3 Feb. 11/3 Supersalesmanship is used to sell to adolescents, who must also learn to sell themselves.
1978 H. Jobson To die a Little ii. 36 Sales gimmicks are out. We don't need them. The scheme sells itself.
4.
a. absol. and intransitive. (Often in phrase to buy and sell; more rarely to sell and buy.)
ΚΠ
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 213 Þat is ure alre wune þe biggeð and silleð.
1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 287 Þat our merchantz mot go forto bie & selle.
1458 Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) 300 And he sel or by in maner above sayd.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. iii. 33 Iew. I wil buy with you, sell with you, talke with you..: but I will not eate with you. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xlii. 6 And hee it was that sold to all the people of the land. View more context for this quotation
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1657 (1955) III. 187 They..were permitted to sell to the friends of their Enemies.
1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) IV. 467 The testator had no power to sell.
b. to sell short: see to sell short at short adv. 11.
5. to sell (infinitive used predicatively): on sale, offered for sale. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > [adverb] > on sale
to sella1300
to salec1380
to set on (or a) sale1546
a-sale1553
for salea1616
on offer1881
a1300 Cursor Mundi 2399 Abram to sell moght find na sede.
?1370 Robt. Cicyle 243 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 215/1 Wher such cloþ was to selle, Ne ho hit made, couþe noman telle.
c1386 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Prol. 414 Winne whoso may, for al is for to selle.
1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 21262 Folkys for to telle, That, with-inne, ys wyn to sell.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 86 Now quhill thair is gude wyne to sell, He that dois on dry breid virry, I gif him to the devill.
1896 A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad vi. 10 Buy them, buy them: eve and morn Lovers' ills are all to sell.
6.
a. intransitive in passive sense. Of a commodity: To find purchasers. to sell for, at = to fetch (a price). †made to sell: manufactured or contrived to secure a ready sale without regard to quality.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (intransitive)]
sell1609
sale1809
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (intransitive)] > be sold or find buyers
sell1609
utter1611
vend1622
vent1622
to go off1625
move1759
sale1809
to sell (also go, go off) like hot cakes1839
society > trade and finance > selling > [adjective] > made or intended to be sold
sale1455
for salea1616
made to sell1827
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (intransitive)] > fetch (a price)
to sell for, at1833
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. iii. 353 Let vs like Marchants First shew foule wares, and thinke perchance theile sell.
1616 B. Jonson Epigrammes iii, in Wks. I. 769 To my Booke-seller. Thou, that..Call'st a booke good, or bad, as it doth sell, Vse mine so, too.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso i. i. 4 There is no Merchandize in this Ware-House which sels better, then certain Fans.
1711 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 24 Sept. (1948) I. 366 Prior's Journey sells still.
1827 P. Cunningham Two Years New S. Wales (ed. 2) I. xvii. 297 I..seized a musket ‘made to sell,’ and sallied out.
1833 H. Martineau Brooke & Brooke Farm (ed. 3) v. 63 They sell at about a shilling a dozen.
1851 E. Bulwer-Lytton Not so Bad iv. i. 77 I found a bookseller to publish my treatise. It sold well.
1855 P. H. Delamotte Pract. Photogr. (ed. 2) 42 In some cameras, ‘made to sell’, no care is taken to adjust this plane.
1860 Cassell's Illustr. Family Paper Apr. 300/3 We shall hear fewer complaints of seed, unless it be from those who obtain packets which are only ‘made to sell’.
1896 H. G. Wells Wheels of Chance i. 7 This, madame,..is selling very well.
b. transferred with personal subj.
ΚΠ
1915 R. Fry Let. 21 Nov. (1972) II. 391 My show is turning out a great success..as far as attendance goes... Of course I don't sell—I never expected to.
1966 C. Achebe in Black Orpheus Mar. 45 I had a Raleigh bicycle, brand new, and everybody called me Jolly Ben. I was selling like hot bread.
7. transitive. In various figurative uses.† c. To make an offender ‘pay for’, to inflict vengeance for (an injury). Chiefly qualified by dear, dearly, or an equivalent adverbial phrase. to sell (another's act, an offence) dear, to exact a heavy penalty for. to be dear or dearly sold, to be attended with great cost. Obsolete.
a. To take money or reward for (something that should be freely bestowed or done); to make subservient to monetary considerations (something which should not be so influenced); to make profit or gain of.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > something that should be freely given
sellc1175
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 135 Quatuor modis uenditur elemosina... An fower cunne wise mon sulleð his elmesse.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 15968 He selleþþ haliȝ gast forr fe. & biggeþþ helle pine.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 364 Lich as it was be daies olde, Whan men the Sennes boghte and solde.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) iii. 10 Þai sell benificez of haly kirk.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) ii. iii. 38 And oftetymes they [aduocates and men of lawe] selle as welle theyr scilence as theyr vtterance.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 169 Whan Iusticia..hit for Penyes sylle and Sauyth gilti men.
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 iv. i. 41 Therefore ere I marchantlike sell blood for gold.
a1605 A. Montgomerie Sonnets (1887) vi. 9 Quhat justice sauld! vhat pilling of the pure!
a1640 J. Fletcher et al. Beggers Bush ii. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ll/2 Do not your Lawyers Sell all their practice, as your Priests their prayers?
1781 W. Cowper Table Talk 419 When perjury..Sells oaths by tale, and at the lowest price.
1864 Ld. Tennyson Aylmer's Field in Enoch Arden, etc. 76 But..Her worldly-wise begetters, plagued themselves To sell her.
b. To give up or part with one thing in exchange for another; esp. (after Genesis xxv. 29–34) to barter away (something of value) for (a trifle).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > give [verb (transitive)] > give in exchange
givec1175
sell?c1225
change1609
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 292 Me sulleð wel luue for luue.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 118 Hwar þorch hebuð þe kinedom of heouene & sullen hit for an wint puf. of worldes hereword.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 159 He..the kyngedom of hewyn Sillyth for a lytill price, lyke as esau didd, that [etc.].
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Fiv These maner of people sell paradise for an apple, with Adam and Eue.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iii. i. 92 But I will remedie this geare ere long, Or sell my Title for a glorious Graue. View more context for this quotation
1650 N. Ward Discolliminium 48 I will sell my Esquireship to any honest man for a good People-ship.
1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 229 Effeminates..Who sell their laurel for a myrtle wreath, And love when they should fight.
1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab v. 69 Whose applause he sells For the gross blessings of a patriot mob.
1859 E. FitzGerald tr. Rubáiyát Omar Khayyám lxix. 15 [They] Have..sold my Reputation for a Song.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > retributive punishment > inflict (retributive punishment) [verb (transitive)] > for an offence or on an offender
wreakc825
awreak1048
wrackc1275
wrakec1275
venge1303
bewreakc1325
avenge1377
hevena1400
sella1400
revengec1425
prosecute1543
pursue1570
wrecka1593
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > execute (vengeance) [verb (transitive)] > avenge (an injury or injured person)
wreakc825
awreak1048
righta1275
wrackc1275
wrakec1275
venge1303
bewreakc1325
avenge1377
hevena1400
sella1400
revengec1425
countervenge1523
wrecka1593
redeem1598
vindicate1623
to pay off1749
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 13182 [Herod] þat godman dos wit tresun sla. But þis ded was sald ful dere.
c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 7864 Ector sclees and Ector felles; His hors takyng dere he selles.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) cviii. 146 Allas how this folyssh enuye..shalle to them be dere sold.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) x. l. 374 Till Inglismen thar cummyng was sauld full der.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vii. l. 22 But wald ȝe do rycht as I wald ȝou ler, This pes to thaim it suld be sald full der.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) clxii. 630 That aquayntauns shall be derely solde for with myne owne handes I shall sle her.
d. to sell one's life (rarely †death) dear, dearly, etc., to destroy many of one's adversaries before giving up one's life in an encounter; to make the enemy pay dearly for one's death.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)] > kill many enemies before death
to sell one's life (rarely death) dear, dearly1297
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 4569 Sulle we he sede vure lif dere ar we be ded.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 4570, 8177.
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 1342 Sir Gij..seyd..‘Dere we schul our deþ selle’.
a1400 Guy Warw. 1342 (MS. C.) Full deere oure liffis we selle shall.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxxxix The Frenche kyng..slewe to the nombre of foure hundred, whiche derely sold their lifes.
1603 North's Plutarch, Cæs. Aug. (1612) 1163 P. Naso was betrayed by his slaue freed... But he sold his death [Amyot mais il vendit sa mort], for he killed the traytor with his owne hands.
1608 D. Tuvill Ess. Politicke, & Morall f. 69 With a resolution to sel their liues at as high a rate as possibly they can.
1624 P. Massinger Bond-man iii. iii. sig. G2v Better expose Our naked breasts to their keene Swords, and sell Our liues with the most aduantage.
1683 J. Dryden & N. Lee Duke of Guise Epil. sig. A4 For what shou'd hinder Me to sell my Skin, Dear as I cou'd, if once my hand were in?
1893 F. C. Selous Trav. S.-E. Afr. 191 The brave beast was..doing his utmost to sell his life dearly.
e. reflexive. to sell oneself: to dispose of one's services for money; to enslave oneself. Also passive.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > sell oneself or one's services [verb (reflexive)]
to sell oneself1771
society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > enslave oneself [verb (reflexive)]
slave1620
to sell oneself1771
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lii. 201 You have sold yourself to the ministry.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 375 Hast thou..brought home the fee, To tempt the poor to sell himself to thee?
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. ii. iv. 120 Is Bouillé a traitor then, sold to Austria?
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 64 Money could be..obtained from the court of Versailles; and Sunderland was eager to sell himself to that court.
f. To lose (a match, game) for a bribe. to sell one's back, (Wrestling) to be bribed to allow oneself to be thrown. to sell one's stone, (Curling) ‘to throw away the advantage of a well-placed stone’ ( Eng. Dial. Dict.).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > win, lose, or score [verb (intransitive)] > lose for bribe
sell1862
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > wrestle [verb (intransitive)] > be thrown for a bribe
to sell one's back1880
1805 G. McIndoe Poems & Songs 55 Dinna ride, Nor sell your stane by playing wide.
1862 Frederick Lillywhite's Cricket Scores & Biogr. Cricketers I. 341 This match was said to have been ‘sold’ by the England side.
1880 M. A. Courtney W. Cornwall Words in M. A. Courtney & T. Q. Couch Gloss. Words Cornwall at Faggot In wrestling, a man who ‘sells his back’ is said ‘to faggot’.
g. Phrase. to sell the pass (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > betrayal > betray by informing [verb (intransitive)]
to sell the pass1850
the mind > possession > relinquishing > make relinquishment [verb (intransitive)] > give up position of advantage
to sell the pass1897
1850 J. Ogilvie Imperial Dict. (at cited word) To sell the pass, to betray one's countrymen, by giving information to the authorities. (An Irish phrase.)
1865 Athenæum 22 July 106/3 An Irish plotter invariably fancies that his companions will ‘sell the pass’ on him.
1897 Westm. Gaz. 6 Dec. 7/1 He now warned the men that by accepting the proposal they would be ‘selling the pass’ for all other trades.
1903 Daily Chron. 16 Nov. 5/1 He..accepted the settlement, and at once fell from his pre-eminence,..being viewed by his followers..as one who had ‘sold the pass’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > commend or praise [verb (transitive)] > as if a saleable commodity
sell1540
1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus sig. Giijv Who here happye selleth hym selfe .i. who is he here that setteth hym selfe out to the sale, for a fortunate or lucky man? [margin Phra. Beatum sese uenditare.]
1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea liii. 126 Had our Gunner beene the man he was reputed to be, and as the world sould him to me, shee had receiued great hurt by that manner of bourding.
9. slang. To cheat, trick, deceive, take in.The two earliest examples suggest development from sense 2; the modern slang use, however, may be partly elliptical for the older phrase to sell a person a bargain: see bargain n.1 7.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > treat fraudulently, cheat [verb (transitive)]
deceivec1330
defraud1362
falsec1374
abuse?a1439
fraud1563
visure1570
cozen1583
coney-catch1592
to fetch in1592
cheat1597
sell1607
mountebanka1616
dabc1616
nigglea1625
to put it on1625
shuffle1627
cuckold1644
to put a cheat on1649
tonya1652
fourbe1654
imposturea1659
impose1662
slur1664
knap1665
to pass upon (also on)1673
snub1694
ferret1699
nab1706
shool1745
humbug1750
gag1777
gudgeon1787
kid1811
bronze1817
honeyfuggle1829
Yankee1837
middle1863
fuck1866
fake1867
skunk1867
dead-beat1888
gold-brick1893
slicker1897
screw1900
to play it1901
to do in1906
game1907
gaff1934
scalp1939
sucker1939
sheg1943
swizz1961
butt-fuck1979
1607 B. Jonson Volpone Argt. sig. A4 Volpone, childlesse, rich, faines sick,..Offers his state to hopes of seuerall heyres,..His Parasite receaues Presents of all..Then weaues Other crosse-plots,..New tricks for safety, are sought; They thriue: When, bold, Each tempt's th'other againe, and all are sold . View more context for this quotation
1734 H. Fielding Don Quixote in Eng. i. viii. 17 Mayor. I begin to smoke a Plot. I begin to apprehend no Opposition, and then we're sold, Neighbour. Voter. I would ride all over the Kingdom for a Candidate;..if I thought Sir Thomas intended to steal us in this manner.
1849 A. R. Smith Pottleton Legacy xv. 123 I've sold them, though!
1852 F. E. Smedley Lewis Arundel xxiv You're not going to try and cut out Bellefield by proposing for my cousin Annie, are you? I wish you would, it would sell Bell so beautifully.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. III. iv. 62 I'll bet you a sovereign you never see a poacher, and then how sold you will be in the morning!
1893 C. G. Leland Memoirs I. 113 Nor was I ‘selling’ him, for I certainly had read the works.
Compounds
C1. With a noun.
sell-soul n. one who sells a soul.Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1682 E. Hickeringill Black Non-Conformist Postscr. sig. X 2 These little Sell-souls do the feat.
sell-truth n. one who sells the truth.Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
c1680 E. Hickeringill Hist. Whiggism in Wks. (1716) I. ii. 140 Is it not enough that this Kingdom..should be once in one Age undone by the same kind of Men, the same Sell Truths?
C2.
sell-by date n. a date marked on food packaging to indicate the latest recommended date of sale, esp. for perishable goods; also figurative. Cf. pull-date n. at pull- comb. form 1c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > [noun] > time-limit > for using perishable items
pull-date1969
sell-by date1973
use-by date1974
society > trade and finance > selling > [noun] > fact of being for sale > date by which sale must occur
sell-by date1973
1972 Which? Sept. 266/2 Waitrose already have sell by such-and-such a date on dairy produce, bacon,..fish, cakes and crisps…Marks and Spencer..are going to include sell by in the future.]
1973 Which? Mar. 96/1 Most of the date stamps will be ‘Sell by…’ dates [sic].
1976 Grocer 8 May 72/3 The printing of sell-by dates.
1984 Oxf. Consumer Autumn 10/2 Perishable foods, like yogurt, which the manufacturer intends you to eat within six weeks of packing, may..be marked with the words ‘Sell by’ followed by the latest recommended date of sale.
1987 Daily Tel. 13 Mar. 16/2 (heading) Socialism: the package that's passed its sell-by date.
Phrasal verbs
Combined with adverbs. to sell away to sell off absolute.1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems lxxix. 3 Only let all your tribe sell off, and follow, Catullus. to sell out 1857 Lawrence (Kansas Territory) Republican 2 July 1 If the Times has not been ‘sold out’ to the Border Ruffian party, it looks very much as if it had been ‘chartered’.1867 Oregon State Jrnl. 19 Jan. 3/1 The writer thinks the officers were ‘badly sold out’.1936 M. Mitchell Gone with the Wind ix. 189 Why quibble about the Yankees earning an honest penny selling out the Union?1940 J. B. Priestley Postscripts 45 It let the old hands, the experts,..speak for it, and they sold it out.1967 Times 17 Nov. 8/6 With shouts of ‘They sold us out, the bastards’, the meeting moved to ‘the moment of truth’.1976 ‘J. Charlton’ Remington Set xxviii. 141 What happened is, Rog sold us out. to sell over † 1. transitive. To sell again. Obsolete. to sell up
1. transitive. To dispose of, or dispossess oneself of, by selling, literal and figurative ? Obsolete.
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)]
to sell awayc1230
to set to (for, on) sale, a-salec1275
sella1330
to make sale (of)c1430
market1455
to make penny of1464
vent1478
to put away1574
dispatch1592
money1598
vent1602
to put off1631
vend1651
hawk1713
realize1720
mackle1724
neat1747
to sell over1837
unload1884
flog1919
move1938
shift1976
c1230 Hali Meid. (Bodl.) 36 Wa wurðe þet cheaffeare, for ei hwilinde weole sullen meiðhad awei.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 425 An hondred þowsand were i-take prisoners and i-solde awey, þritty for a peny.
?1600 Sir R. Boyle in Lismore Papers (1887) 2nd Ser. I. 35 I..haue lefte heer..xxxix papers of Sylck..; which..I praie sell awaie to paie your self.
1611 Bible (King James) Tobit i. 7 The first tenth part of al increase, I gaue to the sonnes of Aaron..another tenth part I sold away . View more context for this quotation
1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 309 Our wary Thyrse shall not sell away his power or mastery.
2. absol. To go on selling.
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (intransitive)] > go on selling
to sell away1878
1878 A. L. Perry Elements Polit. Econ. (new ed.) 543 ‘Never mind’, says England, ‘sell away, and I will make up your loss by a bounty!’
transitive. To dispose of by sale; to sell the whole of (one's stock, possessions, etc.).
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > completely dispose of by sale
to sell upc1480
to sell offa1684
to sell out1811
to close out1852
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1671 (1955) III. 567 He answerd, he was yet but a beginner; but would yet not be sorry to sell off that piece.
1780 Mirror No. 106 He..wound up his business, sold off his stock, and purchased an estate in the country.
1816 W. Scott Black Dwarf v, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. I. 108 You should..set up shop and sell off all the goods you do not mean to keep for your own use.
1856 C. Reade It is never too Late II. xviii. 170 A farmer who was selling off his sheep.
1871 Routledge's Every Boy's Ann. Mar. (Suppl.) 2 Selling off! Bargains!
1. transitive. To distribute by sale.
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > distribute by trade, sale, or order
distrade1623
to sell out1648
fill1860
place1887
1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. xii. 42 The Herbes and Salets..which were sold out, brought in a great Rent yeerely.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 506 The Corn being sold out at a much dearer Rate than 'tis bought up.
2. To dispose of (stock, shares, etc.) by sale. Also absol.
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society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (transitive)] > specific operations
subscribe1618
to take up1655
to sell out1721
to take in1721
to take up1740
pool?1780
capitalize1797
put1814
feed1818
to vote (the) stock (or shares)1819
corner1836
to sell short1852
promote1853
recapitalize1856
refund1857
float1865
water1865
margin1870
unload1870
acquire1877
maintain1881
syndicate1882
scalp1886
pyramid1888
underwrite1889
oversubscribe1891
joint-stock1894
wash1895
write1908
mark1911
split1927
marry1931
stag1935
unwind1958
short1959
preplace1966
unitize1970
bed and breakfast1974
index-link1974
warehouse1977
daisy-chain1979
strip1981
greenmail1984
pull1986
1721 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. Mar. (1966) II. 1 I advis'd him..to sell out of the Subscription [for South Sea stock].
a1777 S. Foote Nabob (1778) ii. 40 Then sell out till you sink it [sc. stock] two and a half.
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple III. xxiii. 300 I wrote..sending her a power of attorney to him [sc. the agent], to sell out the stock.
1862 M. E. Braddon Lady Audley's Secret I. iv. 68 He made arrangements for selling out a couple of hundred pounds worth of consols.
1893 W. G. Cordingley Guide to Stock Exchange 61 Should a purchaser fail to take up his securities..when the Certificate and Transfer are presented to him, the seller has the right to instruct an official to ‘sell out’ at once by auction.
3. intransitive. To dispose of one's commission in the army by sale. Now historical. (Cf. 3b above.)
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society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > appointment to rank > be appointed to rank [verb (intransitive)] > sell commission
to sell out1787
1787 Minor 13 After some campaigns;.. his creditors allowing him the alternative of rotting in a jail, or selling out.
1860 W. M. Thackeray Lovel (1861) iv. 133 His regiment was ordered to India, and he sold out.
4. transitive. To dispose of the whole of (one's stock, property, etc.) by sale. Also absol., and intransitive for passive.Also colloquial in passive, to have sold one's whole stock of some article.
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (intransitive)] > sell assets for cash
realize1781
to sell out1811
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > completely dispose of by sale
to sell upc1480
to sell offa1684
to sell out1811
to close out1852
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (intransitive)] > be sold or find buyers > completely
to sell out1811
1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility II. xii. 228 In spite of its [sc. an estate's] owner having once been within some thousand pounds of being obliged to sell out at a loss. View more context for this quotation
1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 155 Three young women went to market with eggs... All three sold out, and at the same rate.
1898 Daily News 8 Aug. 2/5 [He] sold out his licensed premises.
1907 Daily Chron. 9 Sept. 3/1 I produced two one act operas..and our takings were no more than £57. In Germany or Italy the house would have been sold out.
1914 Daily Mail 31 Jan. 1/2 My first parcel from you sold out very quickly.
1974 M. Birmingham You can help Me ii. 39 The Friday flower stall was rapidly selling out.
5. colloquial (originally U.S. Political slang). transitive and intransitive. To betray a person or cause for gain (cf. sell-out n. at sell n.2 4). Also transitive, to betray (a candidate) by secret bargains (Cent. Dict. 1891).
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society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > unfaithfulness > be unfaithful [verb (intransitive)] > betray principles, etc., for gain
to sell out1857
society > authority > office > appointment to office > choosing or fact of being chosen for office > election of representative body by vote > proceedings at election > [verb (transitive)] > betray candidate by secret bargains
to sell out1857
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > unfaithfulness > be unfaithful to [verb (transitive)] > principles, etc. > for gain
to sell out1857
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. III. lxxxiii. 110 When this transfer of the solid vote of a body of agitators is the result of a bargain with the old party which gets the vote, it is called ‘selling out’.
1903 G. B. Shaw Man & Superman iii. 78 He has sold out to the parliamentary humbugs and the bourgeoisie.
1946 A. Koestler Thieves in Night 112 The English are going to sell out on us.
1976 Survey Winter 86 Barbé called for tactics of disobedience to the colonial administrators and to the traditional chiefs who had ‘sold out’ to the French government.
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > resell
regrate1507
resell1574
to sell over1596
reventa1625
revenda1683
1596 T. Danett tr. P. de Commynes Hist. vii. vii. 287 (note) It was sold to this John Galeas, and he sold it ouer to the Florentines.
2. transitive. To transfer by sale. literal and figurative.
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)]
to sell awayc1230
to set to (for, on) sale, a-salec1275
sella1330
to make sale (of)c1430
market1455
to make penny of1464
vent1478
to put away1574
dispatch1592
money1598
vent1602
to put off1631
vend1651
hawk1713
realize1720
mackle1724
neat1747
to sell over1837
unload1884
flog1919
move1938
shift1976
society > law > transfer of property > types of transfer > [verb (transitive)] > transfer by sale
to sell over1837
1837 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. (ed. 2) III. xxiii. 372 A man is sold over into bondage to this world.
1. transitive. To dispose of the whole of (a person's stock, goods, etc.) by sale. ? Obsolete.
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > completely dispose of by sale
to sell upc1480
to sell offa1684
to sell out1811
to close out1852
c1480 Childe of Bristowe 209 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 118 Al the catel his fader hade, he sold it up, and money made.
1566 Stowe in Three 15th Cent. Chron. (Camden) 140 He sold up his movable goods and went to Rie.
1784 R. Bage Barham Downs I. 55 He..had determined to sell all up.
2. To dispose of the whole or a portion of the goods of (an insolvent or bankrupt person) for the benefit of his creditors. Also with the goods as object.
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > completely dispose of by sale > a bankrupt or his goods
roupc1817
to sell up1825
1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 149 Being much averse to dunning, I was soon sold up.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) ix. 76 He..would..drink his glass with a tenant and sell him up the next day.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xviii. 153 The house and furniture of Russell Square were seized and sold up.
1862 M. E. Braddon Lady Audley's Secret II. ix. 196 I was obliged to sell him up..for he owed me fifteen months' rent.
3. intransitive. To dispose of (a house, business, etc.) by sale.
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > completely dispose of by sale > a house or business
to close out1852
to sell up1862
1862 Manch. Examiner 8 July 6/2 We hed a varra good heawse i' Stanley-street, once; but we hed to sell up an' creep hitherto.
1977 E. Dewhurst Curtain Fall xviii. 216 She would be coming home only in order to sell up.
Draft additions 1993
transferred. Of a publication or recording: to attain sales of (a specified number of copies).
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society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > distribute by trade, sale, or order > specifically a certain number
sell1860
1860 W. M. Thackeray Roundabout Papers vi, in Cornhill Mag. Aug. 256 The Cornhill Magazine..having sold nearly a hundred thousand copies.
1938 E. Waugh Scoop i. i. 3 His novels sold fifteen thousand copies in their first year.
1948 Illustrated 6 Mar. 4/1 American magazines sell millions of copies because of their ‘cheesecake’ pictures.
1958 Listener 2 Oct. 498/1 Today a novel needs to sell 5,000 copies for a publisher to break even.
1966 Melody Maker 15 Oct. 1 Interest in the new Stones single is much less than in previous records by the group even though it is claimed to have sold more than 250,000.
1980 Daily Tel. 21 Aug. 14 The book has sold 10,000 copies since May. It is now reprinting.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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