Commercium

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A system of trade or commerce between nations or entities exists to facilitate the exchange of goods and services
2. The act of engaging in commerce involves the buying and selling of merchandise for profit
3. An economic relationship characterized by the mutual exchange of products and resources is established among parties participating in trade

Etymology: "Commercium" is Latin for trade, exchange, or commerce, and it reached English as a term for business dealings between states. The Latin word is built from "com-" ("together") and "merx" ("merchandise"), so its root sense is goods exchanged between people. Its Latin usage was broad: Romans applied it to ordinary buying and selling as well as to larger commercial dealings. In English, the word is mostly a learned borrowing used in historical and diplomatic contexts, such as early modern treaties and accounts of trading rights between nations. It is closely related to "commerce," which came into English through French from the same Latin root, so the two words are relatives that took different routes into the language.

Synonyms: commerce, trade