Etymological root

trahere

Latin

to pull; to draw; to drag

Forms to recognize: trahō, trahere, tractum

The tract spelling in this family comes through Latin forms related to trahere. Attract draws toward, extract draws out, and distract diverts attention. Contract and subtract also belong historically. The noun contract names an agreement; the shared root should not make you read that noun as a description of physical pulling.

Learn this word family

attract
To make someone interested in or want to come to something.

The new dinosaur exhibit is expected to attract families throughout the summer.
extract
To remove or pull something out, often with effort or force.

The mechanic used a special tool to extract the broken bolt from the engine.
distract
To take someone's attention away from what they are doing.

Messages on my phone distract me from the article I am trying to finish.
contract
A formal written agreement between people or companies that the law can enforce.

Both companies signed a contract covering the delivery of the new equipment.
subtract
To take a number or amount away from another.

If you subtract three from eleven, the result is eight.

# trahere

**Type:** Etymological root
**Language:** Latin
**Slug:** trahere

## Meanings
1. to pull
2. to draw
3. to drag

## Variants
- trahō
- trahere
- tractum

## Notes
The tract spelling in this family comes through Latin forms related to trahere. Attract draws toward, extract draws out, and distract diverts attention. Contract and subtract also belong historically. The noun contract names an agreement; the shared root should not make you read that noun as a description of physical pulling.

## Learn This Word Family
- attract: The new dinosaur exhibit is expected to attract families throughout the summer.
- extract: The mechanic used a special tool to extract the broken bolt from the engine.
- distract: Messages on my phone distract me from the article I am trying to finish.
- contract: Both companies signed a contract covering the delivery of the new equipment.
- subtract: If you subtract three from eleven, the result is eight.

## Words From This Root
- contract - A formal written agreement between people or companies that the law can enforce.
- trace - A sign that something or someone has been present.
- attract - To make someone interested in or want to come to something.
- distract - To take someone's attention away from what they are doing.
- extract - To remove or pull something out, often with effort or force.
- subtract - To take a number or amount away from another.
- abstractly - in a theoretical or non-concrete way
- contraction - the act of shrinking or a shortened word form
- entreat - to ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something; to implore
- retract - to withdraw a statement, or to draw something back in
- tractable - easy to control, manage, or deal with; docile
- abstractedly - in a manner showing distraction or inattention to one's surroundings
- abstractive - tending to form abstractions or to separate qualities by abstraction
- detractor - a person who disparages or belittles someone or something
- distraught - deeply agitated or distressed with worry or grief
- protract - to prolong or lengthen in duration
- subtraction - the process of taking one number or amount away from another
- tractate - a treatise or formal written essay on a subject
- abstractionist - an artist who works in abstract forms rather than representation
- abstractor - a person who prepares summaries or abstracts of documents
- attractively - in a manner that pleases or appeals to the senses
- attractivity - the quality or power of attracting; attractiveness
- distracter - a wrong but plausible answer option in a multiple-choice test
- extraction - the act of drawing or pulling something out; one's ancestry
- intractable - hard to control, manage, or resolve; stubborn
- treatable - able to be cured or managed by medical or other treatment

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