n. & v.
n. 1 a deduction from a bill or amount due given esp. in consideration of prompt or advance payment or to a special class of buyers. 2 a deduction from the amount of a bill of exchange etc. by a person who gives value for it before it is due. 3 the act or an instance of discounting.
v.tr. 1 disregard as being unreliable or unimportant (discounted his story). 2 reduce the effect of (an event etc.) by previous action. 3 detract from; lessen; deduct (esp. an amount from a bill etc.). 4 give or get the present worth of (a bill not yet due). at a discount 1 below the nominal or usual price (cf. PREMIUM). 2 not in demand; depreciated. discount house 1 Brit. a firm that discounts bills. 2 US = discount store. discount rate US the minimum lending rate. discount store esp. US a shop etc. that sells goods at less than the normal retail price. discountable adj. discounter n.
[ obs. F descompte, -conte, descompter or It. (di)scontare (as DIS-, COUNT(1)) ]