treaty

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A formal binding agreement concluded by subjects of international law, namely, states and international organizations; a convention, a pact.

   to sign a peace treaty

2. 2
   noun

   Chiefly in in treaty: discussions or negotiations in order to reach an agreement.

   To a meeting of the executors of late Viscˢˢᵉ Mordaunt's estate, to consider of the sale of Parsons Greene; being in treaty with Mr. Loftus, and to settle the halfe yeare's account.

3. 3
   noun

   The manner or process of treating someone or something; treatment; also, the manner in which someone or something acts or behaves; behaviour.

   Hoſ[t]. They call me Good-ſtock. / Lov[el]. Sir, and you confeſſe it, / Both i'your language, treaty, and your bearing.

4. 4
   noun

   A formal, systematic discourse on some subject; a treatise.

   And though Galen doth ſometime nibble at Moſes, and beſide the Apoſtate Chriſtian, ſome Heathens have queſtioned his Philoſophicall part or treaty of the Creation: Yet is there ſurely no reaſonable Pagan, that will not admire the rationall and well grounded precepts of Chriſt; […]

5. 5
   noun

   An act of beseeching or entreating; an entreaty, a plea, a request.

   Now I must / To the young man ſend humble Treaties, dodge / And palter in the ſhifts of lovvnes, vvho / VVith halfe the bulke o' th' vvorld plaid as I pleas'd, / Making, and marring Fortunes.

6. 6
   noun

   a written agreement between two states or sovereigns

7. 7
   noun

   Chiefly in private treaty: an agreement or settlement reached following negotiations; a compact, a contract, a covenant.

8. 8
   noun

   The addressing or consideration of a subject; discussion, treatment.

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English trete, trety (“bargaining, negotiation; discussion; conference, meeting; entreaty, persuasion; agreement, contract, covenant; arrangement, settlement; agreement between two rulers, states, etc.; written work on a particular subject, treatise; subdivision of a written work, section”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman treté, traité, treaté, and Old French traité, traitié [and other forms] (modern French traité (“agreement between two rulers, states, etc.; treatise”)); traité or traitié is: * a noun use of the past participle of traiter (“to treat; to de…