Trea"tise (?), n. [OE. tretis, OF. treitis, traitis, well made. See Treat.] 1. A written composition on a particular subject, in which its principles are discussed or explained; a tract. Chaucer.

He published a treatise in which he maintained that a marriage between a member of the Church of England and a dissenter was a nullity.

&fist; A treatise implies more form and method than an essay, but may fall short of the fullness and completeness of a systematic exposition.

2. Story; discourse. [R.] Shak.

Trea"tise (?), n. [OE. tretis, OF. treitis, traitis, well made. See Treat.] 1. A written composition on a particular subject, in which its principles are discussed or explained; a tract. Chaucer.

He published a treatise in which he maintained that a marriage between a member of the Church of England and a dissenter was a nullity.

&fist; A treatise implies more form and method than an essay, but may fall short of the fullness and completeness of a systematic exposition.

2. Story; discourse. [R.] Shak.

• a formal, usually lengthy, systematic discourse on some subject