trader
This unattractive portrait of Henry Clerval's father relies on common
prejudices of British society in the early nineteenth century. Trade was
looked down upon as narrowing the mind and depraving the soul. One can
sense the disparagement as Johnson
offers two definitions for "trader" in his
1755 Dictionary:
1.One engaged in merchandise or commerce.
2.One long used in the methods of money getting; a practitioner.
The same tone insinuates itself into cognate definitions:
Trade
1.Traffick; commerce; exchange of goods for other goods, or for money.
2.Occupation; particular employment whether manual or mercantile,
distinguished from the liberal arts or learned professions.
3. Instruments of any occupation.
4. Any employment not manual; habitual exercise.
To trade
1. To traffick; to deal; to hold commerce.
2. To act merely for money.
3. Having a trade wind.
