v. ne·go·ti·at·ed, ne·go·ti·at·ing, ne·go·ti·ates v.intr. To confer with another or others in order to come to terms or reach an agreement: "It is difficult to negotiate where neither will trust" (Samuel Johnson). v.tr. 1. To arrange or settle by discussion and mutual agreement: negotiate a contract. 2. To transfer (an instrument, such as a promissory note) to another party by means of endorsement. 3. a. To succeed in going over or through: negotiate a sharp curve. b. To succeed in accomplishing or managing: negotiate a difficult musical passage. [Latin negōtiārī, negōtiāt-, to transact business, from negōtium, business : neg-, not; see ne in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + ōtium, leisure.] ne·goti·a′tor n. ne·gotia·to′ry (-shə-tôr′ē, -shē-ə-) adj. |
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