Origin and history of vend

mid-15c., "capable of being obtained for a price; that can be corrupted;" 1660s, "offered for sale," from French vénal, Old French venel "for sale" (of prostitutes, etc.; 12c.) and directly from Latin venalis "for sale, to be sold; capable of being bribed."

This is from venum (nominative *venus) "for sale," reconstructed to be from PIE *wes-no- "price," from root *wes- (1) "to buy, sell," source also of Sanskrit vasnah "purchase money," vasnam "reward," vasnayati "he bargains, haggles;" Greek onos "price paid, purchase," oneisthai "to buy."

Typically with a bad sense of "ready to sell one's services or influence for money and from sordid motives; to be bought basely or meanly."

Venal is strongest in expressing the idea of complete sale to a purchaser—character, honor, principle, and even individuality being surrendered for value received, the venal man doing whatever his purchaser directs, a venal press advocating whatever it is told to advocate. [Century Dictionary, 1891]

"person to whom something is sold," 1540s; see vend (v.) + -ee.