auctionary
|auc-tion-ar-y|
🇺🇸
/ˈɔkʃənɛri/
🇬🇧
/ˈɔːkʃənəri/
pertaining to auctions
Etymology
'auctionary' originates from Latin via Middle English/Old French, specifically from Latin 'auctio' (from 'augēre' meaning 'to increase'), with the English suffix '-ary' meaning 'pertaining to'.
'auctionary' developed as an adjective and occasional noun in Middle English by combining 'auction' (from Latin 'auctio', through Old French) with the adjectival suffix '-ary', yielding forms like Middle English/early modern English 'auctionar(y)'.
Initially connected to the Latin root for 'increase' and the idea of a sale by raising bids, it evolved to mean 'pertaining to auctions' and, in rare/archaic use, 'an auctioneer' or 'an auction event'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an auctioneer; a person who conducts an auction (archaic or rare).
The auctionary called for the next lot and the bidders prepared their bids.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a sale conducted by auction; an auction event (archaic or rare).
They attended an auctionary of estate items held at the manor.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/17 16:36