Bar″gain (�), n. [OE. bargayn, bargany, OF. bargaigne, bargagne, prob. from a supposed LL. barcaneum, fr. barca a boat which carries merchandise to the shore; hence, to traffic to and fro, to carry on commerce in general. See Bark a vessel.] 1. An agreement between parties concerning the sale of property; or a contract by which one party binds himself to transfer the right to some property for a consideration, and the other party binds himself to receive the property and pay the consideration.
A contract is a bargain that is legally binding.
Wharton.
2. An agreement or stipulation; mutual pledge.
And whon your honors mean to solemnize
The bargain of your faith.
Shak.
3. A purchase; also (when not qualified), a gainful transaction; an advantageous purchase; as, to buy a thing at a bargain.
4. The thing stipulated or purchased; also, anything bought cheap.
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.
Shak.
Bargain and sale(Law), a species of conveyance, by which the bargainor contracts to convey the lands to the bargainee, and becomes by such contract a trustee for and seized to the use of the bargainee. The statute then completes the purchase; i.e., the bargain vests the use, and the statute vests the possession. Blackstone. — Into the bargain, over and above what is stipulated; besides. — To sell bargains, to make saucy (usually indelicate) repartees. Swift. — To strike a bargain, to reach or ratify an agreement. “A bargain was struck.” Macaulay.
Syn. — Contract; stipulation; purchase; engagement.