Bargainer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who negotiates terms and conditions, often trying to secure better outcomes in agreements or exchanges
2. A person proficient in discussions that aim to settle terms, particularly while striving for advantageous deals
3. A person engaged in the negotiation process who seeks to reach mutually acceptable terms while aiming for favorable outcomes in exchanges or agreements

Etymology: "Bargainer" is a plain compound of "bargain" and the agent suffix "-er," meaning one who bargains. The suffix itself has a long pedigree: it descends from a Proto-Italic ending that became Latin "-arius," which English picked up through Old French "-ier" and Middle English "-er," and it also reached English directly through Old English "-ere," where it has long attached to native verbs and nouns, as in "baker" and "dancer." The base word "bargain" has a more tangled history, and it is the part that gives the word its character. Most of the "bargain" family in English came in through Old French, where "bargaignier" meant to haggle or traffic, but the element "bargainer" inherits is the earlier sense of making a trade or deal, not a cheap purchase. Attaching "-er" to that verb-noun yields a person whose trade is the haggling itself, which is why the word tends to suggest someone shrewd or calculating at the table.

Synonyms: negotiator, deal-maker, haggler, trader, contractor