Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
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bought

verb US /bɑːt/

inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

An inflected form of buy · inflected form.

How often you will meet it

Rank 1,473 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 12,473 times across 175,177 chapters — 0.006% of every word in the library.

What it means

verb

  1. obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction also: purchase The family purchased a new carThe conglomerate acquired a new company
  2. make illegal payments to in exchange for favors or influence also: bribe, corrupt, grease one's palms This judge can be bought
  3. be worth or be capable of buying This sum will buy you a ride on the train
  4. acquire by trade or sacrifice or exchange She wanted to buy his love with her dedication to him and his work
  5. accept as true I can't buy this story

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

bought in real books

Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.

  • Every thing he caused to be delivered, and what I would sell he bought.

    The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1

  • Leaning against a gas-lamp on the Boulevard, he unfolded the paper he had just bought.

    Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1

  • He had worked as teamster and had bought and sold anything to anybody right and left.

    The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1

  • Like Dian's kiss, unasked, unsought, Love gives itself, but is not bought; Nor voice, nor sound betrays Its deep, impassioned gaze.

    The Complete Poetical Works of Henry · Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Chapter 1

  • She bought a cheap cushion at one of Liberty's sales, and some bits of twopenny-halfpenny art china for her narrow mantelpiece.

    Emily Fox-Seton · Frances Hodgson Burnett · Chapter 1

Nearby in the frequency table

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