merchant
UK: ˈmɜːtʃənt | US: ˈmɜːrtʃənt
n. a person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially one dealing with foreign countries or supplying goods to a particular trade
n. (historical) a trader or seller of goods, especially in the past
merchant = merch<trade> + ant<noun suffix denoting person>
- merch (from Old French merche, meaning "trade" or "commerce," derived from Latin merx "goods, merchandise")
- ant (a suffix forming agent nouns, indicating a person who performs an action, from Latin -antem)
Etymology Origin:
The word "merchant" traces back to Latin merx (goods) through Old French merche (trade). The suffix -ant was added to denote a person engaged in trade, reflecting the medieval role of merchants as key figures in commerce. The term evolved alongside the growth of trade networks, emphasizing the connection between goods (merx) and the people (-ant) who distributed them.
The merchant traveled across Europe to sell spices and silk.
Local merchants protested the new tax policies.
In medieval times, a wealthy merchant could influence city politics.
The online merchant shipped the order within 24 hours.
Venetian merchants dominated Mediterranean trade during the Renaissance.