Sell
/sɛl/noun
To exchange something for money or other value.
Did you know?English sell comes from an Old English verb meaning “to give, hand over, or deliver,” and its deeper Germanic cousin is linked to the same ancient root behind “sale” and “soldier.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sel-
“To take, seize, or hold”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*saljaną
“To give, hand over, deliver”
Old English
OE
sellan
“To give, deliver, hand over, grant”
Middle English
English
sellen
“To sell; also, to give up or deliver”
Modern English
English
sell
“To exchange for money”