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buy
noun
To obtain something in exchange for money or other goods; to purchase. Can also mean to obtain something through sacrifice or to suffer consequences for one's actions by paying a price.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
Root: bycġan (to buy, pay for, acquire) — "cow, ox"
Example
"She decided to buy the vintage bookstore after realizing that some dreams are worth the financial risk."
Usage Notes
Buy is the most common and neutral term for purchasing. It works in all registers from casual to formal. The word can extend beyond monetary transactions to suggest any exchange where something is given up to obtain something else. Common phrases include 'buy time' (delay) and 'buy into' (accept an idea). Avoid confusion with 'by' (preposition) in writing.