The person who receives an option to purchase property or securities at a specified price within a certain time period. The optionee has the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the option.
From Latin 'optio' (choice) with the English suffix '-ee' indicating the recipient of an action. The concept developed in commercial law as markets became more sophisticated and parties needed flexible purchasing arrangements.
The optionee holds all the power in an option deal - they can choose to buy or walk away, while the optionor is stuck waiting! It's like having a reservation that you can cancel without penalty, but the seller can't back out.
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