v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Treated; p. pr. & vb. n. Treating. ] [ OE. treten, OF. traitier, F. traiter, from L. tractare to draw violently, to handle, manage, treat, v. intens. from trahere, tractum, to draw. See Trace, v. t., and cf. Entreat, Retreat, Trait. ] 1. To handle; to manage; to use; to bear one's self toward; as, to treat prisoners cruelly; to treat children kindly. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To discourse on; to handle in a particular manner, in writing or speaking; as, to treat a subject diffusely. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To entertain with food or drink, especially the latter, as a compliment, or as an expression of friendship or regard; as, to treat the whole company. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To negotiate; to settle; to make terms for. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To treat the peace, a hundred senators
Shall be commissioned. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Med.) To care for medicinally or surgically; to manage in the use of remedies or appliances; as, to treat a disease, a wound, or a patient. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To subject to some action; to apply something to; as, to treat a substance with sulphuric acid. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To entreat; to beseech. [ Obs. ] Ld. Berners. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A parley; a conference. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Bid him battle without further treat. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An entertainment given as an expression of regard. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which affords entertainment; a gratification; a satisfaction; as, the concert was a rich treat. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To discourse; to handle a subject in writing or speaking; to make discussion; -- usually with of; as, Cicero treats of old age and of duties. [ 1913 Webster ]

And, shortly of this story for to treat. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now of love they treat. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To negotiate; to come to terms of accommodation; -- often followed by with; as, envoys were appointed to treat with France. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inform us, will the emperor treat! Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To give a gratuitous entertainment, esp. of food or drink, as a compliment. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. tretable, F. traitable, L. tractabilis. See Treat, and cf. Tractable. ] Manageable; tractable; hence, moderate; not violent. [ Obs. ] “ A treatable disposition, a strong memory.” R. Parr. [ 1913 Webster ]

A kind of treatable dissolution. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

The heats or the colds of seasons are less treatable than with us. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a treatable manner. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who treats; one who handles, or discourses on, a subject; also, one who entertains. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. tretis, OF. treitis, traitis, well made. See Treat. ] 1. A written composition on a particular subject, in which its principles are discussed or explained; a tract. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

He published a treatise in which he maintained that a marriage between a member of the Church of England and a dissenter was a nullity. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A treatise implies more form and method than an essay, but may fall short of the fullness and completeness of a systematic exposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Story; discourse. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who writes a treatise. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. traitement. See Treat. ] 1. The act or manner of treating; management; manipulation; handling; usage; as, unkind treatment; medical treatment. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Entertainment; treat. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Accept such treatment as a swain affords. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Treatment. [ Obs. ] Fabyan. [ 1913 Webster ]