Pronunciation: ' p ə r-ch ə s
Function: verb
Inflected Form: pur · chased ; pur · chas · ing
Etymology: Middle English purchacen, from Anglo-French purchacer to strive for, obtain, from por-, pur- thoroughly, to a conclusion (fr. Latin pro- forward, for) + chacer to pursue, chase ― more at PRO-
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a archaic : GAIN , ACQUIRE b : to acquire (real estate) by means other than descent c : to obtain by paying money or its equivalent : BUY d : to obtain by labor, danger, or sacrifice
2 : to constitute the means for buying <our dollars purchase less each year>
intransitive verb : to purchase something
– pur · chas · able \ -ch ə -s ə -b ə l \ adjective
– pur · chas · er noun