1. To attempt to come to an agreement on something through discussion and compromise: Greg wanted to negotiate with his mother by doing more chores for a raise in his allowance!
2. To manage to get past or to deal with something that constitutes a hazard or obstacle: Karen said that they could negotiate the river with a small boat after the wind had calmed down.
3. To transfer ownership of a financial instrument: To negotiate such a check or security to someone else in exchange for a payment can be accomplished at a bank.
4. Etymology: ultimately from Latin negotium, literally, "lack of leisure"' formed from neg, "not" + otium, "leisure".

The meaning is based on the saying: neg otium est, "There is no leisure."