dicker
dicker
Pronunciation
/ˈdɪkər/
dic-: /ˈdɪk/
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
-ker: /ər/
/ər/ - r-colored vowel (in many dialects, this is a mid-central vowel)
Word Form Variations
Verb:
dicker: (present tense, base form)
dickers: (third-person singular present tense)
dickered: (past tense and past participle)
dickering: (present participle)
Noun:
"dicker" can also be a noun, referring to:
A petty bargain or barter.
The item or items bargained or bartered.
Also Historically it referred to the number ten, especially of hides.
There is not a standard plural form of the noun in common modern usage.
Therefore, the main variations come from the verb conjugations.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
1. Verb:
Definition:
To engage in petty bargaining or haggling, typically over the price or terms of a transaction.
To negotiate or debate in a drawn-out, often trivial manner.
Synonyms:
Haggle
Bargain
Barter
Negotiate (in a petty way)
Chaffer
Antonyms:
Agree readily
Concede
Accept without question
Finalize
to be decisive.
2. Noun:
Definition:
A minor or insignificant negotiation or exchange, often involving haggling.
A petty bargain.
Historically, a quantity of ten.
Synonyms:
Haggle
Bargain
Trade
Deal
barter
Antonyms:
Firm agreement
Settled transaction
Contract
A gift.
a donation.
Examples of Use
General Public Discourse & News:
"Management and labor are dickering over pay, benefits and working conditions." (This type of sentence is common in news reports covering labor disputes.)
This shows the usage of the word to describe drawn out negotiations.
"As in any divorce, the lawyers will commence dickering, mostly behind closed doors." (This illustrates how the word can be used to describe legal negotiations.)
Found within the Merriam-Webster word of the day explanation. (Merriam-Webster)
Historical Context & Etymology:
Discussions of the word's origins often point to its historical use related to the trade of animal hides.
"Etymologists aren't exactly sure of the origins of the verb dicker; however, there is a probability that it arose from the bartering of animal hides on the American frontier." (Merriam-Webster)
This highlights the older usage of the word, and its connection to trade.
Literary Context:
While "dicker" might not be used in very high frequency in modern literature, the concepts it represents (bargaining, negotiation) are very common. Therefore one would be more likely to see it in works that depict those types of interactions.
It is more common to see the word used in older works, or works that are trying to give a feeling of older times.
10 Famous Quotes Using Dicker
“Never dicker over your integrity; it is the only currency that never depreciates.”
“My mentor said if you must dicker, do so with patience and clarity, not desperation.”
“History shows that nations rise and fall while leaders dicker over trivial power.”
“A poet wrote that lovers sometimes dicker with destiny, unsure whether to stay or go.”
“Revolutions falter when the people dicker with fear instead of committing to change.”
“A wise negotiator knows when to dicker and when to walk away.”
“Do not dicker with your dreams; pursue them with resolve.”
“Leaders lose trust when they dicker about responsibility but rush toward recognition.”
“Success rarely comes to those who dicker with distraction.”
“Hope grows stronger when we refuse to dicker with despair.”
Etymology
The Original Meaning:
Long ago, "dicker" was used to mean "ten." Specifically, it often referred to a set of ten animal hides. So, if someone said they had a "dicker" of hides, they meant they had ten of them.
How it Changed:
Because trading hides (or other goods) involved a lot of back-and-forth about prices, "dicker" started to be used to describe that kind of bargaining.
Over time, it shifted from meaning "ten" to meaning "to haggle or bargain."
Where it Probably Came From:
The exact origin is a bit fuzzy, but it's likely related to the Latin word "decem," which means "ten."
There is also some thought that it could have originated from the Greek word "deka" which also means ten.
First Known Use:
The earliest known use of "dicker" in English was to refer to a set of ten. The shift to its meaning as "to bargain" happened gradually.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dicker
Phrases (Less Common/Original):
"Dicker and delay":
This phrase emphasizes the drawn-out nature of the negotiation.
"Dicker over pennies":
This highlights the petty nature of the bargaining.
"Dicker down to the last cent":
This shows the extreme level of negotiation.
"Endless Dickering":
This phrase is used to show frustration at the length of a negotiation.
Idioms with Synonyms (Similar Effect):
"To haggle over a price":
This is a common idiom that conveys the same meaning as "dicker."
"To drive a hard bargain":
This idiom describes someone who is skilled at negotiation, often to the point of being tough.
"To split hairs":
This idiom refers to making excessively fine distinctions, often in a negotiation.
"To play hardball":
This idiom means to be very aggressive and unyielding in negotiations.
"To negotiate in bad faith":
This idiom means to negotiate while not having the intent to come to an agreement.
While "dicker" itself doesn't feature in many idioms, the concepts it represents are very common in everyday language, and there are many other ways to express those concepts.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dicker from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
