I.Inf. mercarier for mercari, Hor. S. 2, 3, 24), v. dep. n. and a. [id.], to trade, traffic, deal in commodities (absol., Plaut. Merc. prol. 82), to buy, purchase something from a person (cf. nundinor).
I. Lit., constr. with aliquid ab or de aliquo, with abl. or gen. of the price (class.): “aliquid ab aliquo,” Cic. Off. 1, 42, 150: “fundum de pupillo,” id. Fl. 20, 46: “aliquid tanto pretio,” id. Rosc. Am. 46, 133: “hortos egregiasque domos,” Hor. S. 2, 3, 24: “quanti mercatura mullum luxuria?” Plin. 9, 18, 31, § 68: “hanc (segetem),” Juv. 14, 143.—In part. pres.: mercans , antis, subst., a buyer, purchaser: “spem mercantium frustrari,” Suet. Aug. 75.—
II. Trop.: “ego haec officia mercanda vitā puto,” to be purchased with life, Cic. Att. 9, 5, 3: “amorem muneribus,” Prop. 2, 16 (3, 8), 15.—In pass. signif., to be bought (mostly post-Aug.): “jam quidem facta emplastra mercantur,” Plin. 34, 11, 25, § 108.— Part. perf.: mercātus , a, um, bought, purchased: commeatibus mercatis, Sall. Fragm. ap. Non. 138, 12: “cultus,” Prop. 1, 2, 5: “sestertiis centum quinquaginta milibus trullam unam mercatam a matrefamilias,” Plin. 37, 2, 10, § 29 (the better reading is mercatā matre, Jan.).
