treaty
Pluraltreaties
Verbtreaties, treatying, treatied
Pluraltreaties
Formstreaties, treatying, treatied
- 1A formal written agreement between countries or international groups that all sides agree to follow.
Like a promise written down and signed, but between whole countries instead of two people.
The two countries signed a treaty to end the war.
A new treaty will protect the rivers that both nations share.
Similarpact, accord, agreement, convention
Note
- 2A private deal that two sides reach after talking things over.
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- 3The talking and bargaining done to reach an agreement.
Like the back-and-forth talking before two people finally shake hands.
The two sides were in treaty for weeks before they agreed.
To a meeting of the executors of late Viscˢˢᵉ Mordaunt's estate, to consider of the sale of Parsons Greene; being in treaty with Mr. Loftus, and to settle the halfe yeare's account.
1680, John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 30 April 1680]”Here, treaty means talks to reach a deal, so they are negotiating a sale.Note
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- 6A long, careful piece of writing that explains a subject in full.
Like a whole book written to explain one topic from start to finish.
He wrote a treaty on the movements of the stars.
The scholar's treaty explained the laws of music in great detail.
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- 7The act of dealing with or discussing a subject.
Like the way a teacher works through a topic so everyone understands it.
The book gives careful treaty to each question in turn.
His treaty of the matter left nothing unexplained.
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- 8The way someone is treated, or the way a person acts.
Like the way you treat a guest: kindly or rudely.
The servants praised the kind treaty they received in that house.
Hoſ[t]. They call me Good-ſtock. / Lov[el]. Sir, and you confeſſe it, / Both i'your language, treaty, and your bearing.
1629, B[en] Jonson, The New InneHere, treaty means the way you act or treat others.Note
- 9A serious request or plea made to someone.
Like begging someone for help when you really need it.
She made a humble treaty for her brother's freedom.
Now I must / To the young man ſend humble Treaties, dodge / And palter in the ſhifts of lovvnes, vvho / VVith halfe the bulke o' th' vvorld plaid as I pleas'd, / Making, and marring Fortunes.
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”Here, Treaties means humble pleas or requests.Note
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Practice
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Origin
The word came through Middle English and Old French from a Latin word tractāre, meaning to handle or discuss, which came from trahō, to drag or pull. The verb comes from the noun.