Market Comes From the Roman God of War
A market is a place of trade. Its name traces back through Latin to Mars, and so does the month of March.
A market is a place or system where goods are traded. The Latin *mercatus* comes from *merx*, merchandise, which some etymologists connect to *Mercurius* — Mercury, god of commerce. What is certain is the family: *merchant*, *commerce*, *merchandise* and *mercenary* all share the root, and mercy comes from the same word meaning a payment or reward.
- A place of trade. *A street market.*
- Demand for a product. *A growing market.*
- To promote. *Market the product.*
- On the market — for sale. *The house is on the market.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | market | A farmers' market. |
| Plural | markets | Global markets. |
| Verb | market | Market it widely. |
| Noun | marketing | A marketing plan. |
| Related | merchant | A wine merchant. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The market decides the price.Economics.
- Mercy comes from the same root.Latin *merces*, a reward.
- A market town held a chartered market.British geography.
Words from *merx*
- Market — a place of trade
- Merchant — a trader
- Commerce — trade together
- Merchandise — goods for sale
- Mercy — from *merces*, a reward or payment
From Latin *mercatus*, trade or a marketplace, from *merx*, goods. English took it through Old North French.
Are mercy and market related?
Yes. Both descend from Latin *merx* and *merces*, meaning goods and payment. Mercy was originally a reward or grace given.
What is a market town?
A British town holding the legal right to host a regular market, usually granted by royal charter centuries ago.