GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 5 definitions

1.       
   Contract , 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.]
   To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's sphere of action.
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   In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our faculties.
   Dr. H. More.
   
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   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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   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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   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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   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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   (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.
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2.       
   Contract , v. i.
   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.
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   Years contracting to a moment.
   Wordsworth.
   
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   To make an agreement; to covenant; to agree; to bargain; as, to contract for carrying the mail.
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3.       
   Contract , a. Contracted; as, a contract verb.
   Goodwin.
   
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4.       
   Contract , a. [L. contractus, p. p.] Contracted; affianced; betrothed. [Obs.]
   Shak.
   
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5.       
   Contract , n. [L. contractus, fr. contrahere: cf. F. contrat, formerly also contract.]
   (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.
   
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   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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   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.
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