nĕgōtĭor

I. v. dep. n. and a. [id.], to carry on business, esp. a wholesale business or the banking business.

I. Lit.: cum se Syracusas otiandi, non negotiandi causā contulisset, Cic. Off. 3, 14, 58: Curius qui Patris negotiatur, id. Fam. 13, 17, 1; Sall. C. 40, 2: quibus mercibus negotiatur aliquis, Gai. Inst. 4, 74.—

B. Transf., in gen., to trade, traffic: negotiandi causā, Liv. 33, 29, 4; Col. praef. 12.—

C. To gain by traffic (eccl. Lat.): quantum negotiatus esset, Vulg. Luc. 19, 15.—

II. Trop. *

A. To deal, traffic: animā statim nostrā negotiari, Plin. 29, 1, 5, § 11.—*

B. To engage in business: circumspiciebam in quod me mare negotiaturus immitterem, Sen. Ep. 119, 5.—Hence, nĕ-gōtĭans, antis, P. a.—As subst.

A. A wholesale dealer, trader, banker, business man: negavi me cuipiam negotianti dare (praefecturam), Cic. Att. 5, 21, 10.—

B. In gen., a dealer, tradesman: MATERIARIVS, Inscr. Fabr. 655, n. 476: SALSAMENTARIVS ET VINARIARIVS, Inscr. Orell. 4249.—Plur.: aratores ac negotiantes, Suet. Aug. 42: negotiantes in basilicā, Vitr. 5, 1, 8: NEGOTIANTES VINI ARIMINENSES, Inscr. Rein. c. 3, n. 88 (a. p. Chr. n. 251).