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mercante

merchant, trader

noun mer-KAHN-teh Rare

Origin: From Latin mercans (trading), from merx (goods).

Usage Note

Mercante is a somewhat elevated or historical term for a merchant or trader; in everyday modern Italian commerciante is more common. The same form serves both genders (il mercante / la mercante). The adjective mercantile (commercial, mercantile) derives from the same root.

Examples

"Il mercante vendeva spezie al mercato."

Natural Translation

The merchant sold spices at the market.

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