nĕgōtĭor (nĕgōc-), ātus, 1, v. dep. n. and a. [negotium], 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, to traffic with our lives , Plin. 29, 1, 5, § 11.—*
B To engage in business : circumspiciebam in quod me mare negotiaturus immitterem, Sen. Ep. 119, 5.
VII —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).