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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