Dealer Means Someone Who Divides Things Up
A dealer buys and sells, or distributes cards. The Old English root means to divide, which is exactly what dealing is.
A dealer is one who buys and sells, or who distributes cards in a game. The root explains both: Old English *dælan* means to divide or share out. Dealing cards divides the pack, and dealing goods divides a stock among buyers. The same root gives *dole* and the *deal* you strike.
- A trader. *An antiques dealer.*
- One who distributes cards. *The dealer shuffles.*
- A franchise seller. *A car dealer.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | dealer | A licensed dealer. |
| Plural | dealers | Art dealers. |
| Verb | deal | Deal the cards. |
| Noun | deal | A good deal. |
| Related | dole | On the dole. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The dealer sets the price.Trade.
- The dealer deals clockwise.Card games.
- A great deal of trouble.A large amount.
Words from *dælan*, to divide
- Deal — to divide or distribute, and an agreement
- Dealer — one who divides or trades
- Dole — a portion handed out
- Ordeal — from a word meaning to deal out judgement
- A great deal — a large portion
From Old English *dælan*, to divide or share, from *dæl*, a part — related to English *dole* and German *Teil*.
Are deal and dole related?
Yes. Both come from a root meaning a portion. The dole is a portion handed out.
Why does *a great deal* mean a lot?
Because deal originally meant a portion or share, and a great one is a large amount.