sell
UK[sɛl]US[sɛl]
v
To give something to someone in exchange for money.
v
To be offered for purchase at a particular price.
v
To persuade someone of the value or truth of an idea or plan.
Etymology
The modern English verb 'sell' descends directly from the Old English verb 'sellan', which meant "to give, furnish, supply, surrender, offer for sale." This Old English term is derived from the Proto-Germanic saljaną, meaning "to offer up, deliver." The sense of exchanging for money became dominant over time. The ultimate origin is the Proto-Indo-European root selh₁-, meaning "to take, grasp," which also gave rise to the Greek word 'heílō' (I take) and is related to the concept of a transaction involving the transfer of possession.
Analysis
The word 'sell' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It functions as a verb.
Examples
They plan to sell their house and move to the countryside.
This model sells for just under twenty thousand dollars.
He tried to sell the committee on his ambitious new proposal.