treat
See also: Treat
English
Etymology
From Middle English treten, from Anglo-Norman treter, Old French tretier, traiter, from Latin trāctare (“to pull", "to manage”), from the past participle stem of trahere (“to draw", "to pull”).
Pronunciation
- (US) IPA(key): /tɹit/, [tɹiʔ(t̚)], [t͡ʃɹiʔ(t̚)]
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -iːt
Verb
treat (third-person singular simple present treats, present participle treating, simple past and past participle treated)
- (intransitive) To negotiate, discuss terms, bargain (for or with). [from 13th c.]
- 1955, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Return of the King, George Allen & Unwin:
- Now halting a few paces before the Captains of the West he looked them up and down and laughed. 'Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?' he asked.
- 1985, Lawrence Durrell, Quinx, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 1365:
- After all, in this hideous war we have just passed through never forget that Halifax would have treated with Hitler: it took Churchill to refuse.
- 2010, David Mitchell, The Observer, 6 Jun 2010:
- I wouldn't promote businesses I considered immoral – ambulance-chasing lawyers or online roulette for example – but I've got nothing against computer or software manufacture: they're important and any reputable company in that industry is welcome to treat for my services.
- 1955, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Return of the King, George Allen & Unwin:
- (intransitive) To discourse; to handle a subject in writing or speaking; to conduct a discussion. [from 14th c.]
- Cicero's writing treats mainly of old age and personal duty.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
- And, indeed, should the excellent Mr Broughton be prevailed on to set fist to paper, and to complete the above-said rudiments, by delivering down the true principles of athletics, I question whether the world will have any cause to lament, that none of the great writers, either antient or modern, have ever treated about that noble and useful art.
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
- Now of love they treat.
- (transitive) To discourse on; to represent or deal with in a particular way, in writing or speaking. [from 14th c.]
- The article treated feminism as a quintessentially modern movement.
- (transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To entreat or beseech (someone). [14th-17th c.]
- Only let my family live, I treat thee.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Ld. Berners to this entry?)
- (transitive) To handle, deal with or behave towards in a specific way. [from 14th c.]
- You treated me like a fool.
- She was tempted to treat the whole affair as a joke.
- (transitive) To entertain with food or drink, especially at one's own expense; to show hospitality to; to pay for as celebration or reward. [from 16th c.]
- I treated my son to some popcorn in the interval.
- I've done so well this month, I'll treat you all to dinner (or 'Dinner is my treat.)
- My husband treated me to a Paris holiday for our anniversary.
- (transitive) To care for medicinally or surgically; to apply medical care to. [from 18th c.]
- They treated me for malaria.
- (transitive) To subject to a chemical or other action; to act upon with a specific scientific result in mind. [from 19th c.]
- He treated the substance with sulphuric acid.
- I treated the photo somewhat to make the colours more pronounced.
- To provide something special and pleasant.
Usage notes
In the dialects found in Yorkshire and North East England, the past tense and past participle form tret (/tɹɛt/) is sometimes encountered.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Terms derived from treat (verb)
Translations
to negotiate
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to discourse, to represent
to handle a subject in writing or speaking
to entreat or beseech
to handle, deal with or behave towards in a specific way
|
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to care for medicinally or surgically
|
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to subject to a specific action
to entertain with food or drink
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Noun
treat (plural treats)
- An entertainment, outing, food, drink, or other indulgence provided by someone for the enjoyment of others.
- I took the kids to the zoo for a treat.
- Here are some healthy Halloween treats for ghouls and witches of all ages.
- An unexpected gift, event etc., which provides great pleasure.
- It was such a treat to see her back in action on the London stage.
- A snack food item designed to be given to pets.
- I lured the cat into her carrier by throwing a couple of treats in there.
- (obsolete) A parley or discussion of terms; a negotiation.
- (obsolete) An entreaty.
Derived terms
Terms derived from treat (noun)
Translations
An entertainment, outing, or other indulgence provided by someone for the enjoyment of others
|
An unexpected gift, event etc., which provides great pleasure
(obsolete) A parley or discussion of terms; a negotiation — see negotiation
(obsolete) An entreaty — see entreaty
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