com|merce

com|merce «KOM uhrs, -urs», noun, verb, -merced, -merc|ing.

–n.

1. a) buying and selling in large amounts between different places; business; trade: »

Commerce exists because of the desire of individuals and countries having different goods to exchange their surplus for the surplus of some other people (Finch and Trewartha).

SYNONYM(S): dealings, traffic. See syn. under trade. (Cf. ↑trade) b) things, such as ships or messages, that represent such trade: »

Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails (Tennyson).

2. social dealings: »

The old farmer had little commerce with his neighbors.

3. spiritual communion: »

A witch was said to have commerce with the Devil.

4. = sexual intercourse. (Cf. ↑sexual intercourse)

–v.i.

1. Archaic. to have social dealings.

2. Obsolete. to carry on trade.

╂[< Middle French commerce, learned borrowing from Latin commercium trade < com- with + merx, mercis wares, merchandise]