▪ I. treating, vbl. n.
(ˈtriːtɪŋ)
[f. treat v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb treat.
1. Negotiation of terms.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xiv. 8 He send and had treting With the erischry of Irland. c 1440 Jacob's Well 207 Be tretyng or counseylyng þei myȝte haue sped bettere. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. cxix. [cxv.] 341 We be in treatynge togyther.., wherfore we wolde gladly make an exchaunge with certayne prisoners. 1638 R. Baker tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. II) 147 If in treating together, we should not sometimes violate the laws of our Art, [etc.]. |
2. Discoursing, discussion.
| c 1450 tr. De Imitatione i. x. 10 Tretyng and talking of seculer dedes,..lettiþ muche. 1720 Waterland Eight Serm. 114, I was once inclinable to defer the Treating of it some time longer. |
3. Behaviour towards a person, etc.; usage.
| 1549 Compl. Scotl. viii. 74 Al the gude treittyng that scottis men gettis in ingland changis in ane vile seruitude. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 36 Irrewerent traicting of y⊇ name of god. |
† 4. Entreaty, beseeching. Obs.
| 1595 Daniel Civ. Wars ii. lxxxix, With earnest 'treating she procur'd her Passe To come to him. |
5. Regaling, feasting, entertaining; spec. the action of providing a person (wholly or partly at one's own expense) with food or drink at a parliamentary or other election in order to obtain (or in return for) his vote; bribery or corruption by feasting (illegal in Great Britain since 1854 by 17 & 18 Vict. c. 102, §4).
| 1709 Steele Tatler No. 73 ¶14 An evil and pernicious Custom has of late..prevailed at the Election of Aldermen, by treating at Taverns and Alehouses, thereby engaging many unwarily to give their Votes. 1842 Act 5 & 6 Vict. c. 102 (title) An Act for the better Discovery and Prevention of Bribery and Treating at the Election of Members of Parliament. 1863 H. Cox Instit. i. viii. 116 Treating..invalidates the vote of an elector treated. |
6. attrib. † treating-house, a house of entertainment or refreshment, an eating-house (obs.).
| 1680 in Verney Mem. (1907) II. 369 Eate a Tart at the treating house by Knightsbridge. 1704 Gentl. Instr. iii. (1713) 353 His first jaunt is to a Treating-house. |
▪ II. ˈtreating, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That treats, in any sense of the verb; in quot., negotiating, discussing terms.
| 1820 A. Ranken Hist. France VIII. i. iv. 95 The principal treating powers agreed to employ their endeavours in terminating the war. |