- auction (n.)
- "a sale by increase of bids," 1590s, from L. auctionem (nom. auctio) "an increasing sale," from auctus, pp. of augere "to increase," from PIE base *aug- "to increase" (see augment). In northern England and Scotland, called a roup. The verb is attested from 1807. In the U.S., something is sold at auction; in England, by auction. Auctioneer (n.) is attested from 1708; as a verb from 1733.