- OE. purchasenporchacen, OF. porchacierpurchacier, to pursue, to seek eagerly, F. pourchasser; OF. pourporpur, for (L. pro) + chacier to pursue, to chase. See Chase
- To pursue and obtain; to acquire by seeking; to gain, obtain, or acquire.That loves the thing he can not purchase.Your accent is Something finer than you could purchase in so removed a dwelling.His faults . . . hereditary Rather than purchased.
- To obtain by paying money or its equivalent; to buy for a price; as, to purchase land, or a house.The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth.
- To obtain by any outlay, as of labor, danger, or sacrifice, etc.; as, to purchase favor with flattery.One poor retiring minute . . . Would purchase thee a thousand thousand friends.A world who would not purchase with a bruise?
- To expiate by a fine or forfeit.ObsNot tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses.
- LawTo acquire by any means except descent or inheritance.Blackstone.To buy for a price.
- To apply to (anything) a device for obtaining a mechanical advantage; to get a purchase upon, or apply a purchase to; as, to purchase a cannon.
