▪ I. pact, n.
(pækt)
[a. OF. pact (14th c.), later pacte (in OF. also pat, pac, pag, pl. pas), ad. L. pactum agreement, covenant, neuter n. f. pactus, pa. pple. of pac-isc-ĕre to agree, covenant.]
An agreement between persons or parties, a compact.
nude pact, bare pact, or naked pact, an agreement without consideration, which cannot therefore be legally enforced.
| 1429 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 361/1 No Merchaunt..shall..bynde any of ye Kynges Lieges, be pact, covenant nor bond. 1485 Caxton Chas. Gt. 216 He was contente to make a pacte and couenaunte wyth Charles. 1542 Henry VIII Declar. Scots B ij b, That is due vnto vs by right, pactes, and leages. 1671 Milton P.R. iv. 191 As offer them to me..on such abhorred pact, That I fall down and worship thee as God. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. 1808 V. 57 The engagement and pact of society, which generally goes by the name of the constitution. 1846 Browning Lett. (1899) I. 462/4 His pact with the evil one obliged him to drink no milk. |
▪ II. pact, v. rare
(pækt)
[f. prec. Cf. obs. F. pacter (16th c. in Godef.).]
a. trans. To stipulate; to agree to, conclude (something) with a person; to enter into a pact with (a person). b. intr. To enter into a pact, bargain (for a thing). Hence † ˈpacted ppl. a.
| 1535 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 45 To pay the saide money..uppon suche conuenauntes as they shal pacte condiscende and conclude. 1567 Turberv. Ovid's Epist. 63 Thy pacted spouse I am. 1646 Gaule Cases Consc. 35 The pacted witch is one only operative..by vertue of a superstitious compact or contract made with the Divell. 1654 Vilvain Theol. Treat. ii. 41 A Covenant of Grace..freely pacted with Man a sinner. 1940 Economist 6 Jan. 10/2 To-day Germany has pacted with Communism, Italy is neutral, the West fights Germany. |
▪ III. pact
obs. f. packed, from pack v.