business
UK[ˈbɪznəs]US[ˈbɪznəs]
n
the activity of making, buying, or selling goods or providing services in exchange for money
n
a particular company or organization that buys and sells goods or services
n
the amount of work done or the number of customers served by a company
Etymology
The word 'business' originates from the Old English 'bisignes', meaning 'anxiety' or 'care', itself derived from 'bisig' (busy, occupied). The core concept evolved from a state of being engaged or occupied to specifically denote one's regular occupation or commercial dealings. This semantic shift reflects a focus on productive activity. By the Middle English period, the spelling stabilized as 'business', solidifying its modern meaning related to trade, profession, or commercial enterprise.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form derived from the Old English 'bisig' (busy) combined with the suffix '-ness'. In modern English spelling, the morpheme boundaries ('busy' and 'ness') are not directly preserved as substrings of 'business'.
Examples
She runs a successful business selling handmade furniture.
He is in New York on business.
The restaurant does most of its business during the lunch hour.