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whole·sale

(hōlsāl′)

The sale of goods in large quantities, as for resale by a retailer.

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or engaged in the sale of goods in large quantities for resale: a wholesale produce market; wholesale goods; wholesale prices.

2. Made or accomplished extensively and indiscriminately; blanket: wholesale destruction.

adv.

1. In large bulk or quantity.

2. Extensively; indiscriminately.

v. whole·saled, whole·sal·ing, whole·sales

v.tr.

To sell in large quantities for resale.

v.intr.

1. To engage in wholesale selling.

2. To be sold wholesale.

wholesal′er n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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