I. ˈdiˌskau̇nt noun
( -s )
Etymology: modification (influenced by dis- (I) & count ) (I) of French décompte, from Old French descont, from desconter
1. : an abatement or reduction made from the gross amount or value of anything: as
a.
(1) : a reduction from a price made to a specific customer or class of customers — see trade discount
(2) : a proportionate deduction from an account as debt usually made for cash or prompt payment — see cash discount
b. : a deduction made for interest in advancing money upon or purchasing a bill or note not due : payment in advance of interest upon money
2. : the rate of interest charged in discounting
3. : the act or an instance of discounting
to employ bank funds in the discount of bills of exchange
4. : a deduction in billiards of one point from the score of one player for every point made by his opponent
5. : a deduction taken or allowance made (as for the specious element in a story or something that qualifies the truth of an assertion)
we may … have to make very heavy discount , or even sometimes to reject our author's conclusions altogether — G.G.Coulton
after all the discounts are taken, timeliness remains a chief quality of good reporting — F.L.Mott
also : an objectionable feature : drawback , hindrance
he does … mention smells and some other discounts to a pleasant day — Times Literary Supplement
•
- at a discount
II. “ also də̇ˈs- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: modification of French décompter, from Old French desconter, from Medieval Latin discomputare, from Latin dis- dis- (I) + computare to reckon, compute — more at count
transitive verb
1.
a. : to deduct especially from an account, debt, or charge : make an abatement of
discount a bill for early payment
b. : to offer for sale at a discount : sell at a discount
dealers were heavily discounting last year's unsold models
2. : to lend money upon, deducting the discount or allowance for interest
banks discount negotiable paper
3.
a. : to leave out of account : disregard , omit
the influence of Hawaii on the American house is minute, discounting the spectacle … of flapping shirttails printed with gaudy flora — T.H.Robsjohn-Gibbings
b. : to make a deduction in evaluating the significance or worth of : view as unimportant : minimize , disparage , depreciate , underrate
discounting his offense as a pardonable action under the circumstances
his mature judgment and long experience were discounted by his juniors
never discount the fellow's cunning and ingenuity
: diminish , lessen
the value of his criticism was discounted by his ignorance of the subject
c.
(1) : to make a deduction in evaluating the truth or validity of : make allowance (as for bias or exaggeration) in
he discounted seventy-five percent of all stable gossip — Gerald Beaumont
discount some of the more enthusiastic claims made for the new drug
(2) : to view with doubt or skepticism : disbelieve
I discount the story that the brave bull gored Miss McCormick … because … she was an author — C.V.Little
d. : to anticipate or take into account (as a future event) in present calculations or planning
mail came chiefly from those organized groups whose opposition had already been discounted — Time
businessmen had already discounted the inflationary effects of the price increase
4. : to give a discount to in billiards
intransitive verb
1. : to lend or make a practice of lending money, abating the discount
banks discount for 60 or 90 days
2. : to make allowance
discounting for Richard's modesty — S.E.Hyman
III. adjective
Etymology: discount , noun
1.
a. : selling goods or services at a discount
discount stores
a discount broker
discount airlines
b. : offered or sold at a discount
2. : reflecting a discount
discount prices