retail: [14] Retail etymologically denotes the sale of ‘cut-off’ bits, hence sale in small quantities. It comes from Old French retaille ‘piece cut off’, a derivative of retaillier ‘cut up’. This was a compound verb formed from the intensive prefix re- and taillier ‘cut’ (source of English tailor). It use in English for ‘sell in small quantities’ was probably inspired by the Italian retagliare, which has the same meaning. The figurative sense ‘relate, tell’ appeared at the end of the 16th century. => tailor
retail (v.)
mid-14c. "sell in small quantities or parcels," from Old French retaillier "cut back, cut off, pare, clip, reduce, circumcise," from re- "back" (see re-) + taillier "to cut, trim" (see tailor (n.)). Sometimes also "to deal out (information, etc.) in small quantities; hand down by report; recount, tell over again" (1590s). Related: Retailed; retailing.
retail (n.)
early 15c., "sale of commodities in small quantities or parcels or at second hand" (opposed to wholesale), from Old French retail "piece cut off, shred, scrap, paring" (Modern French retaille), from retaillier (see retail (v.)). The notion of the English word is "a selling by the piece." This sense is not in French, however, and comes perhaps from cognate Italian ritaglio, which does have that sense. As an adjective, "of or pertaining to sale at retail," c. 1600.
双语例句
1. There's nothing better than a bit of retail therapy.
没有什么比花钱买点东西能让自己高兴起来了。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The news from Body Shop rattled the rest of the retail sector.
从“美体小铺”传来的消息令整个零售行业不安。
来自柯林斯例句
3. He now controls the largest retail development empire in southern California.
他现在掌管着加州南部最大的零售发展企业。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Savings schemes are the best retail investment products on offer.
储蓄方案是现有的最佳零售投资产品。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Unemployment is rising again and retail buying has fallen off.
