▪ I. tractate, n.
(ˈtrækteɪt)
Also 6 Sc. tracteit, 6–7 tractat.
[ad. L. tractātus (u-stem) a handling, treatment, discussion, treatise, f. tractāre: see tract v.1 Cf. Prov. tractat, Sp. tratado, It. trattato, Fr. traité; also Ger. tractat.]
1. A book or literary work treating of a particular subject; a treatise.
| 1474 Caxton Chesse 1 This first chappitre of the first tractate sheweth [etc.]. 1549 Compl. Scot. Epist. 6 To present to ȝour nobil grace ane tracteit of the fyrst laubir of my pen. 1641 Milton Prel. Episc. 3 Needlesse tractats stuff't with specious names. 1692 Ray Disc. iii. ii. (1732) 411 A notable Passage taken out of Plutarch's Tractate. 1877 Morley Crit. Misc. Ser. ii. 270 It was his own sense of the value of Liberty which led to the production of the little tractate. 1883 A. Edersheim Life Jesus (ed. 6) I. 401 In the Rabbinic tractate on the Samaritans. |
† b. The subject treated of. Obs. rare—1.
| 1589 Nashe Anat. Absurd. 6 When as lust is the tractate of so many leaues, and loue passions the lauish dispence of so much paper. |
† c. Literary treatment, discussion (of a subject).
| 1586 J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie Ep. Ded., A matter of it selfe so honorable, namely the tractate and handling of the nobilities and armes of generositie. |
† 2. Negotiation, dealing, transaction. Obs.
| 1618 Barnevelt's Apol. F j, By reason of these fiue Regall Embassages, and tractates, it happened, that [etc.]. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 89 In Paris they dare talke of the Kings mistresses, intermeddle with all tractates of Parliaments and State. |
▪ II. † ˈtractate, v. Obs. rare.
[f. L. tractāre: see tract v.1, -ate3.]
trans. To handle, deal with.
| 1657 Tomlinson Renou's Disp. 669 Things..onely Medicinal..should be tractated by Pharmacopolists alone. |