[sell] vb sold ; sell.ing [ME, fr. OE sellan; akin to OHG sellen to sell, ON sala sale, Gk helein to take] vt (bef. 12c) 1: to deliver or give up in violation of duty, trust, or loyalty: betray--often used with out
2. a (1): to give up (property) to another for something of value (as money) (2): to offer for sale b: to give up in return for something else esp. foolishly or dishonorably "sold his birthright for a mess of pottage" c: to exact a price for "sold their lives dearly" 3 a: to deliver into slavery for money b: to give into the power of another "sold his soul to the devil" c: to deliver the personal services of for money
4: to dispose of or manage for profit instead of in accordance with conscience, justice, or duty "sold their votes"
5. a: to develop a belief in the truth, value, or desirability of: gain acceptance for "trying to ~ a program to the Congress" b: to persuade or influence to a course of action or to the acceptance of something "~ children on reading"
6: to impose on: cheat
7. a: to cause or promote the sale of "using television advertising to ~ cereal" b: to make or attempt to make sales to c: to influence or induce to make a purchase 8: to achieve a sale of "sold a million copies" ~ vi 1: to dispose of something by sale
2: to achieve a sale; also: to achieve satisfactory sales "hoped that the new line would ~"
3: to have a specified price -- sell.able adj -- sell down the river : to betray the faith of -- sell short 1: to make a short sale
2: to fail to value properly: underestimate
[2]sell n (1838) 1: a deliberate deception: hoax
2: the act or an instance of selling [3]sell or selle n [ME selle, fr. MF, fr. L sella--more at settle] (15c) archaic: saddle [4]sell chiefly Scot var of self