The Collaborative International Dictionary
Discount \Dis"count`\, n. [Cf. F. d['e]compte. See Discount, v. t.]
A counting off or deduction made from a gross sum on any account whatever; an allowance upon an account, debt, demand, price asked, and the like; something taken or deducted.
A deduction made for interest, in advancing money upon, or purchasing, a bill or note not due; payment in advance of interest upon money.
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The rate of interest charged in discounting.
At a discount, below par, or below the nominal value; hence, colloquially, out of favor; poorly esteemed; depreciated.
Bank discount, a sum equal to the interest at a given rate on the principal (face) of a bill or note from the time of discounting until it become due.
Discount broker, one who makes a business of discounting commercial paper; a bill broker.
Discount day, a particular day of the week when a bank discounts bills.
True discount, the interest which, added to a principal, will equal the face of a note when it becomes due. The principal yielding this interest is the present value of the note.
Usage examples of "at a discount".
At this date, and during the four years of the Revolution, the total arrears of taxation amounted to six hundred and thirty-two millions - a bad debt that can hardly be recovered, and, in fact, it is already reduced one-half, since, even if the debtor could and was disposed to pay, he would pay in assignats, which, at this time, were at a discount of fifty per cent.
Has a contract to deliver advertising handbills, for the local moving-picture theater which he farms out to his younger brother and four other boys and pays them in tickets to the theater and keeps some for his own use and sells the rest at a discount (four cents instead of five) at school.
Has a contract to deliver advertising handbills for the local moving-picture theater which he farms out to his younger brother and four other boys and pays them in tickets to the theater and keeps some - for his own use and sells the rest at a discount (four cents instead of five) at schooL Has a vending bar for soda pop (a sweet, bubbly drink) on the corner in the summers but plans to franchise this to his younger brother this coming summer.
Now, though, Gabriel found himself wondering whether he, Enda, and Sunshine were all on the point of being sold to some corsair lord at a discount-or, equally, wondering what he would do if a gandercat wound up in the tent with them.
Trying to sell your shop, but nobody wants to buy, even at a discount?
After some argument Sweepstakes tickets were made valuta at a discount, $2.