Part 2358

<h1>Contract</h1> <Xpage=314>

<hw>Con*tract"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p.p.</tt> <er>Contracted</er>; <tt>p.pr. & vb.n.</tt> <er>Contracting</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[L. <ets>contractus</ets>, p.p. of <ets>contrahere</ets> to contract; <ets>con-</ets> + <ets>trahere</ets> to draw: cf. F. <ets>contracter</ets>. See <er>Trace</er>, and cf. <er>Contract</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lesen; <as>as, to <ex>contract</ex> one's shpere of action</as>.</def>

<blockquote>In all things desuetude doth <b>contract</b> and narrow our faculties. <i>Dr. H. More.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.</def>

<blockquote>Thou didst <b>contract</b> and purse thy brow. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To bring on; to incur; to acquire; <as>as, to <ex>contract</ex> a habit; to <ex>contract</ex> a debt; to <ex>contract</ex> a disease.</as></def>

<blockquote>Each from each <b>contract</b> new strength and light. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Such behavior we <b>contract</b> by having much conversed with persons of high stati<?/r. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain or covenant for.</def>

<blockquote>We have <b>contracted</b> an inviolable amity, peace, and lague with the aforesaid queen. <i>Hakluyt.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Many persons . . . had <b>contracted</b> marriage within the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by law. <i>Strype.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To betroth; to affiance.</def>

<blockquote>The truth is, she and I, long since <b>contracted</b>, Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Gram.)</fld> <def>To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- To shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen; condense; reduce; confine; incur; assume.</syn>

<h1>Contract</h1> <Xpage=314>

<hw>Con*tract"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To be drawn together so as to be diminished in size or extent; to shrink; to be reduced in compass or in duration; <as>as, iron <ex>contracts</ex> in cooling; a rope <ex>contracts</ex> when wet.</as></def>

<blockquote>Years <b>contracting</b> to a moment. <i>Wordsworth.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To make an agreement; to covenant; to agree; to bargain; <as>as, to <ex>contract</ex> for carrying the mail</as>.</def>

<h1>Contract</h1> <Xpage=314>

<hw>Con"tract</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Contracted: as, a <i>contract</i> verb.</def>

<i>Goodwin.</i>

<h1>Contract</h1> <Xpage=314>

<hw>Con*tract"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>contractus</ets>, p.p.]</ety> <def>Contracted; affianced; betrothed.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Contract</h1> <Xpage=314>

<hw>Con"tract</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>contractus</ets>, fr. <ets>contrahere</ets>: cf. F. <ets>contrat</ets>, formerly also <ets>contract</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>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.</def>

<i>Wharton.</i>