treaty
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈtɹiːti/
ipa: /ˈtɹiti/
ipa: /-ɾi/
ipa: /ˈtɹiːti/
ipa: /ˈtɹiːəti/
rhymes: -iːti
Forms: form: treaties
Etymology: The noun is derived from Middle English trete, trety (“bargaining, negotiation; discussion; conference, meeting; entreaty, persuasion; agreement, contract, covenant; arrangement, settlement; agreement between two rulers, states, etc.; written work on a particular subject, treatise; subdivision of a written work, section”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman treté, traité, treaté, and Old French traité, traitié [and other forms] (modern French traité (“agreement between two rulers, states, etc.; treatise”)); traité or traitié is:
* a noun use of the past participle of traiter (“to treat; to deal with, handle”), from Latin tractāre, the present active infinitive of tractō (“to drag, haul, tug; to handle, manage; to debate, discuss; to exercise, practise; to perform, transact”), from trahō (“to drag, pull”) + -tō (frequentative suffix); and
* also from Latin tractātum (“written work on a particular subject, treatise”), from Latin tractātus (“dragged, hauled, tugged; handled, managed; exercised, practised; performed, transacted”), the perfect passive participle of tractō (see above).
The verb is derived from the noun.
Senses: examples: text: to sign a peace treaty
text: to write up a treaty touching climate change
text: [T]he Duke of Britaine hauing beene an Hoſte, and a kind of Parent or Foſter-father to the King, in his tenderneſſe of age, and vveakneſſe of fortune, did looke for at this time from King Henry (the renovvned King of England) rather braue Troupes for his Succours, then a vaine Treatie of Peace.
ref: 1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, →OCLC, page 47:
text: Soon after his [James VI and I's] coming to the Crown of England he entered into ſecret treaties with Spain, in order to the forcing the States to a peace: […]
ref: a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, “Book I. A Summary Recapitulation of the State of Affairs in Scotland, both in Church and State; […]”, in [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], editor, Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume I, London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC, page 15:
text: Exportation was encouraged ſometimes by dravvbacks, ſometimes by bounties, ſometimes by advantageous treaties of commerce with foreign ſtates, and ſometimes by eſtabliſhment of colonies in diſtant countries.
ref: 1776 March 9, Adam Smith, “Of the Principle of the Commercial, or Mercantile System”, in An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. […], volume II, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, book IV (Of Systems of Political Oeconomy), page 29:
qualifier: international law
glosses: A formal binding agreement concluded by subjects of international law, namely, states and international organizations; a convention, a pact.
examples: text: 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.
ref: 1680 May 10 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 30 April 1680]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, page 519:
glosses: Chiefly in in treaty: discussions or negotiations in order to reach an agreement.
glosses: Chiefly in private treaty: an agreement or settlement reached following negotiations; a compact, a contract, a covenant.
examples: text: Hoſ[t]. They call me Good-ſtock. / Lov[el]. Sir, and you confeſſe it, / Both i'your language, treaty, and your bearing.
ref: 1629 (first performance), B[en] Jonson, The New Inne. Or, The Light Heart. […], London: […] Thomas Harper, for Thomas Alchorne, […], published 1631, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii:
glosses: The manner or process of treating someone or something; treatment; also, the manner in which someone or something acts or behaves; behaviour.
glosses: The addressing or consideration of a subject; discussion, treatment.
examples: text: And though Galen doth ſometime nibble at Moſes, and beſide the Apoſtate Chriſtian, ſome Heathens have queſtioned his Philoſophicall part or treaty of the Creation: Yet is there ſurely no reaſonable Pagan, that will not admire the rationall and well grounded precepts of Chriſt; […]
ref: 1650, Thomas Browne, “Of the Second Cause of Popular Errors; the Erroneous Disposition of the People”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 1st book, page 7:
text: The Miniſters in Holland did upon this occaſion ſhew a very particular violence. In their ſermons, and in ſome printed treaties, they charged the Judges with corruption, who had carried the ſentence no farther than to baniſhment: And compared the fate of the De Wits to Haman’s.
ref: a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, “Book II. Of the First Twelve Years of the Reign of King Charles II. from the Year 1660 to the Year 1673.”, in [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], editor, Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume I, London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC, page 326:
glosses: A formal, systematic discourse on some subject; a treatise.
examples: text: 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.
ref: c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene xi], page 356, column 1:
glosses: An act of beseeeching or entreating; an entreaty, a plea, a request.
Coordinate terms: concordat
Derived terms: peace treaty
treaty battleship
treatyless
treatymaker
treatymaking
Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance
treaty port
unequal treaty
Related terms: entreat
entreating
entreatingly
entreative
entreatment
entreaty
tractate
trait
treat
treatable
treatableness
treatably
treatise
treatment
protocol
exchange of letters
exchange of notes