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76 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Contract \Con*tract"\ (k[o^]n*tr[a^]kt"), v. 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Years contracting to a moment.        --Wordsworth.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To make an agreement; to covenant; to agree; to bargain;
        as, to contract for carrying the mail.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Contract \Con*tract"\ (k[o^]n*tr[a^]kt"), v. 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, n.]
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our
              faculties.                            --Dr. H. More.
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     2. To draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.
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              Thou didst contract and purse thy brow. --Shak.
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     3. To bring on; to incur; to acquire; as, to contract a
        habit; to contract a debt; to contract a disease.
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              Each from each contract new strength and light.
                                                    --Pope.
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              Such behavior we contract by having much conversed
              with persons of high station.         --Swift.
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     4. To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain
        or covenant for.
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              We have contracted an inviolable amity, peace, and
              lague with the aforesaid queen.       --Hakluyt.
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              Many persons . . . had contracted marriage within
              the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by
              law.                                  --Strype.
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     5. To betroth; to affiance.
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              The truth is, she and I, long since contracted,
              Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us.
                                                    --Shak.
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     6. (Gram.) To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by
        reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.
  
     Syn: To shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen;
          condense; reduce; confine; incur; assume.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Contract \Con"tract\ (k[o^]n"tr[a^]kt), a.
     Contracted; as, a contract verb. --Goodwin.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Contract \Con*tract"\ (k[o^]n*tr[a^]kt"), a. [L. contractus, p.
     p.]
     Contracted; affianced; betrothed. [Obs.] --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Contract \Con"tract\ (k[o^]n"tr[a^]kt), n. [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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A formal 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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     3. The act of formally betrothing a man and woman.
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              This is the the night of the contract. --Longwellow.
  
     Syn: Covenant; agreement; compact; stipulation; bargain;
          arrangement; obligation. See Covenant.
          [1913 Webster]