‖ tractus R.C. Ch.
(ˈtræktəs)
[med.L. tractus, a spec. use of L. tractus ‘drawing, drawing out’, fr. trahĕre to draw; ‘quia trahendo, id est tractim, canitur’: see Du Cange s.v.]
= tract n.2
| a 1450 Myrc Festial 64 Scho layth downe Alleluia and oþyr songys of melody, and takeþe forþe tractus, þat ben songys of mowrnyng, and sykyng, and longyng. 1493 Festivall (W. de W. 1515) 5 b. 1854 Helmore Pract. Lect. Plain Song 20 Graduals, Tractuses, Sequences, and Hymns. |