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Webster 1913 Edition

Contract

Con-tract′

(kŏn-trăkt′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Contracted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Contracting
.]
[L.
contractus
, p. p. of
contrahere
to contract;
con-
+
trahere
to draw: cf. F.
contracter
. See
Trace
, and cf.
Contract
,
Noun.
]
1.
To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lessen;
as, to
contract
one’s sphere of action
.
In all things desuetude doth
contract
and narrow our faculties.
Dr. H. More.
2.
To draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.
Thou didst
contract
and purse thy brow.
Shakespeare
3.
To bring on; to incur; to acquire;
as, to
contract
a habit; to
contract
a debt; to
contract
a disease
.
Each from each
contract
new strength and light.
Pope.
Such behavior we
contract
by having much conversed with persons of high station.
Swift.
4.
To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain or covenant for.
We have
contracted
an inviolable amity, peace, and lague with the aforesaid queen.
Hakluyt.
Many persons . . . had
contracted
marriage within the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by law.
Strype.
5.
To betroth; to affiance.
The truth is, she and I, long since
contracted
,
Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us.
Shakespeare
Syn. – To shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen; condense; reduce; confine; incur; assume.

Con-tract′

(kŏn-trăkt′)
,
Verb.
I.
1.
To be drawn together so as to be diminished in size or extent; to shrink; to be reduced in compass or in duration;
as, iron
contracts
in cooling; a rope
contracts
when wet
.
Years
contracting
to a moment.
Wordsworth.
2.
To make an agreement; to covenant; to agree; to bargain;
as, to
contract
for carrying the mail
.

Con′tract

(kŏn′trăkt)
,
Adj.
Contracted;
as, a
contract
verb
.
Goodwin.

Con-tract′

(kŏn-trăkt′)
,
Adj.
[L.
contractus
, p. p.]
Contracted; affianced; betrothed.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Con′tract

(kŏn′trăkt)
,
Noun.
[L.
contractus
, fr.
contrahere
: cf. F.
contrat
, formerly also
contract
.]
1.
(Law)
The agreement of two or more persons, upon a sufficient consideration or cause, to do, or to abstain from doing, some act; an agreement in which a party undertakes to do, or not to do, a particular thing; a formal bargain; a compact; an interchange of legal rights.
Wharton.
2.
A formal writing which contains the agreement of parties, with the terms and conditions, and which serves as a proof of the obligation.
3.
The act of formally betrothing a man and woman.
Syn. – Covenant; agreement; compact; stipulation; bargain; arrangement; obligation. See
Covenant
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Contract

CONTRACT

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to draw. See Draw.]
1.
To draw together or nearer; to draw into a less compass, either in length or breadth; to shorten; to abridge; to narrow; to lessen; as, to contract an inclosure; to contract the faculties; to contract the period of life; to contract the sphere of action.
2.
To draw the parts together; to wrinkle; as, to contract the brow.
3.
To betroth; to affiance. A contracted his daughter to B. The lady was contracted to a man of merit.
4.
To draw to; to bring on; to incur; to gain. We contract vicious habits by indulgence. We contract debt by extravagance.
5.
To shorten by omission of a letter or syllable; as, to contract a word.
6.
To epitomize; to abridge; as, to contract an essay.

CONTRACT

, v.i.
1.
To shrink; to become shorter or narrower.
Many bodies contract by the application of cold.
A hempen cord contracts by moisture.
2.
To bargain; to make a mutual agreement, as between two or more persons. We have contracted for a load of flour; or we have contracted with a farmer for a quantity of provisions.

CONTRACT

, for contracted,
pp.
Affianced; betrothed.

CONTRACT

,
Noun.
1.
An agreement or covenant between two or more persons, in which each party binds himself to do or forbear some act, and each acquires a right to what the other promises; a mutual promise upon lawful consideration or promise upon lawful consideration or cause, which binds the parties to a performance; a bargain; a compact. Contracts are executory or executed.
2.
The act by which a man and woman are betrothed, each to the other.
3.
The writing which contains the agreement of parties with the terms and conditions, and which serves as a proof of the obligation.

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