Con*tract" (k&obreve;n*trăkt"), 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.]
1. To draw together or nearer; to reduce to
a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to
contract one's sphere of action.
In all things desuetude doth contract and
narrow our faculties.
Dr. H. More.
2. To draw together so as to wrinkle; to
knit.
Thou didst contract and purse thy brow.
Shak.
3. To bring on; to incur; to acquire; as,
to contract a habit; to contract a debt; to
contract a disease.
Each from each contract new strength and
light.
Pope.
Such behavior we contract by having much
conversed with persons of high station.
Swift.
4. To enter into, with mutual
obligations; to make a bargain or covenant for.
We have contracted an inviolable amity,
peace, and lague with the aforesaid queen.
Hakluyt.
Many persons . . . had contracted marriage
within the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by law.
Strype.
5. To betroth; to affiance.
The truth is, she and I, long since
contracted,
Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us.
Shak.
6. (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.
Con*tract" (k&obreve;n*trăkt"), v.
i. 1. 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.
Years contracting to a moment.
Wordsworth.
2. To make an agreement; to covenant; to
agree; to bargain; as, to contract for carrying the
mail.
Con"tract (k&obreve;n"trăkt),
a. Contracted; as, a contract
verb. Goodwin.
Con*tract" (k&obreve;n*trăkt"),
a. [L. contractus, p. p.]
Contracted; affianced; betrothed. [Obs.]
Shak.
Con"tract (k&obreve;n"trăkt),
n. [L. contractus, fr.
contrahere: cf. F. contrat, formerly also
contract.] 1. (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.
2. A formal writing which contains the
agreement of parties, with the terms and conditions, and which
serves as a proof of the obligation.
3. The act of formally betrothing a man
and woman.
This is the the night of the contract.
Longwellow.
Syn. -- Covenant; agreement; compact; stipulation;
bargain; arrangement; obligation. See Covenant.
