Contract v.

[f. L. contract- ppl. stem of contrah-ĕre to draw together, f. con- + trahĕre to draw. The ppl. adj. contract was much earlier in use, and prob. helped to introduce the vb.; for some time contract continued to interchange with contracted, not only in the pa. pple., but also in the pa. t. F. contracter also appeared in the 16th c.]

  I.  To agree upon, make a contract, engage.

  1.  trans. To agree upon, establish by agreement, to undertake mutually, or enter upon (a) a convention or treaty, (b) a legal or business engagement. Now rare exc. as in 3.

1548.  Hall, Chron., 245. They sent … a league indented … in the which it was contracted and agreed, etc.

c. 1555.  Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (1878), 241. There is emption and vendition contracted as soon as the parties be condescended upon the price.

1599.  Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 143 (R.). We haue contracted an inviolable amitie, peace and league with the aforesaid queene.

1630.  R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 464. They contracted their owne conditions in despight of that whole Armie.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 202. Assume the legal Right to disengage From all, it had contracted under Age.

1844.  H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, II. 411. He steadily persisted in declining to contract any subsidiary alliance.

  b.  Hence, To contract friendship, acquaintance, etc., which passes into sense 4, q.v.

  † c.  In a bad sense: To conspire, plot. Obs.

1618.  Chapman, Hesiod, I. 370. Whom rude Injury delights, and acts That misery and tyranny contracts.

1633.  J. Done, trans. Hist. Septuagint, 93. What men do and thinke with themselves, or what they plot and contract with another.

  2.  intr. To enter into an agreement or contract, esp. a business or legal engagement.

1530.  Palsgr., 497/1. I contracte, I covenaunt with one upon condyscions.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxiv. § 4. That infants may contract and covenant with God, the law is plain.

1677.  Hale, Contempl., II. 124. It was but Reasonable and Just for him [Adam] to contract for all his Posterity.

1700.  Dryden, Fables, 35, Pal. & Arc., II.

1746.  in Col. Rec. Pennsylv., V. 42. The Supplies contracted to be deliver’d them from this port.

1863.  Fr. A. Kemble, Resid. in Georgia, 70. Two planters … have contracted to build a canal.

1897.  Law Times Rep., LXIII. 765/1. The defendants were liable as principals, as they had contracted in their own names.

  b.  Const. for (a piece of work, an article to be supplied, etc.).

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., I. xv. 75. The value of all things contracted for, is measured by the Appetite of the Contractors.

1676.  Evelyn, Mem. (1857), II. 115. This Dutchman had contracted with the Genoese for all their marble.

1796.  Hull Advertiser, 14 May, 2/2. Such joiners as wish to contract for the pewing of Aldbrough church.

1845.  M’Culloch, Taxation, II. i. (1852), 421. When government goes into the money-market and contracts for a loan.

1890.  W. Besant, Demoniac, iii. 29. In the good old days of railway making, when the founder of the family engineered, contracted, and constructed on the largest scale possible.

  c.  To contract oneself out of: to free oneself from, divest oneself of, by entering into a contract.

1879.  Daily News, 20 Sept., 3/3. The landlord contracting himself out of the Agricultural Holdings Act.

1891.  Law Rep., Weekly Notes, 43/2. The company had contracted itself out of the right to wind up voluntarily.

  3.  spec. as to marriage. a. trans. To constitute marriage by contract; to enter into marriage.

1530.  Palsgr., 497/1. I contracte matrymonye with one, Je me fiance.

1589.  Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 92. They all concluded to passe into Thessaly, to contract the marriage twixt Pleusidippus and the daughter of the Thessalian King.

1625.  Heylin, Microcosmos, 95. Charles the eight, who contracts a marriage with the Orphan.

1638.  Penit. Conf., vii. (1657), 121. The Greek Priests sinned not in contracting marriage.

1708.  J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit. (1745), 361. Banns are always asked before marriage can be contracted.

1845.  S. Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., II. 403. It were better for the priesthood to contract matrimony than to live with women of ill fame.

1885.  Law Rep., 14 Q. B. Div. 80. She was of unsound mind and incapable of contracting marriage.

  b.  trans. and refl. To betroth, affiance, engage (two persons, or one person to another); pass. to be betrothed or ‘engaged.’ arch. † (b). To enter into a matrimonial contract with. Obs.

1536.  Diurn. Occurrents (1833), 21. Vpoun the xxvj day of November, the kingis grace was contractit on the eldest dochter of the King of France.

1599.  Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 15. Since the prince was onlye slenderly contracted, and not maryed, to her.

1605.  Two Unnat. Murthers, in J. P. Collier, Illustr. E. E. Pop. Lit., I. 29. Maister Browne with his owne handes contracted his onely daughter to Peter.

1606.  G. W[oodcocke], trans. Hist. Ivstine, Ll 3 b. His daughter Margaret, first contracted with the King of France, and then refused, was married to Phillibert.

1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iv. 401. Contract vs fore these Witnesses.

1635.  Pagitt, Christianogr., 84. That no Deaconship or Presbytership is given among them, except first they have contracted a Virgin.

1734.  trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist., IV. IX. 260. Two of the principal citizens of Sparta contracted themselves to his two daughters.

1775.  Sheridan, Rivals, I. ii. We were contracted before my father’s death.

1871.  H. Ainsworth, Tower Hill, I. v. What would Lady Rochford think of her, if she knew she was contracted to this man?

  fig.  c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., i. But thou contracted to thine owne bright eyes.

  c.  intr. To enter into a matrimonial contract.

1660.  Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., III. 5 (Latham). Although the young folks can contract against their parents’ will, yet they can be hindered from possession.

1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. 552. First, they must be willing to contract … Secondly, they must be able to contract.

  II.  To enter into, incur, become involved in, acquire.

  4.  To contract friendship, acquaintance, etc., was originally said of the two parties entering into such mutual relations (see sense 1); whence, of one party, ‘to form, enter into, or become engaged in’ such a relation.

1553.  Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 28. A further frendship by this meanes contracted.

1598.  Bacon, Sacred Medit., iv. (Arb.), 107. It is the Charitie of Publicanes contracted by mutuall profite and good offices.

1623.  Bingham, Xenophon, 120. Cleander … vsed Xenophon with all kindnesse, and contracted hospitalitie with him.

1634.  W. Tirwhyt, trans. Balzac’s Lett., 205. We ought to contract perfect love with honest men.

1773.  T. Jefferson, Corr., Wks. 1859, I. 195. The small acquaintance which I had the pleasure of having contracted with you.

1861.  Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., vii. (1889), 57. To feel that he was contracting his first college friendship.

  5.  To enter into, bring upon oneself (involuntarily), incur, catch, acquire, become infected with (something noxious, as disease, † mischief; bad habits or condition; † danger, † risk, † blame, guilt).

1598.  Barckley, Felic. Man (1631), 627. The common opinion of happiness … is contracted by the fall of our first parents.

1607.  Topsell, Serpents (1653), 613. She eateth Rue … to avoyd all the poyson she contracted in the combat.

1628.  Hobbes, Thucyd. (1822), 106. You must stand the danger you have contracted.

1654.  R. Codrington, trans. Hist. Ivstine, 425. Demetrius … contracted as much contempt by his sloth, as his Father had [contracted] hatred by his pride [cf. 221].

1665.  Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., 82. Under whom they contracted new and worse errors.

1667.  Pepys, Diary (1879), IV. 300. And he contract the displeasure of the world.

1691.  T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., p. cviii. Thereby contracting dangerous Colds, Coughs and Catarrhs.

1700.  Dryden, Fables, 534, Gd. Parson, 85.

1746–7.  Hervey, Medit. (1818), 166. The woods seem to contract a sickly aspect.

1840.  Macaulay, Clive, 91. He had contracted several painful distempers.

1866.  Geo. Eliot, F. Holt (1868), 21. She had contracted small rigid habits of thinking and acting.

1877.  Mozley, Univ. Serm., viii. 172. One who has contracted guilt.

  b.  In a neutral or good sense: To take on, acquire, get for oneself (a habit, quality, condition).

1691.  T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 94. The wasting … of Sheet-Lead by the heat and moisture contracted between it and the plain it lyes on.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 160, ¶ 11. He had contracted the Seriousness and Gravity of a Privy-Counsellor.

1717.  Pope, Ep. Jervas, 16. Like friendly colours … each from each contract new strength and light.

1749.  Chesterf., Lett., II. 283. Contract a habit of correctness and elegance.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), II. IV. vii. 116. Their flesh contracts an agreeable flavour of garlic.

1853.  Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xxi. 273. We cannot help contracting good from such association.

  6.  To incur (a liability or obligation, esp. a debt).

1650.  [see b].

1719.  W. Wood, Surv. Trade, 67. For the Debt to Foreigners, tho’ near Thirty Years Contracting, is not … more than Five Millions.

1724.  R. Falconer, Voy. & Esc. (1769), 82. I am going to pay a Debt … which was contracted at my Birth.

1803.  Jane Porter, Thaddeus, xii. (1831), 104. To defray what he had contracted would nearly exhaust his all.

1839.  Alison, Hist. Europe, I. ii. § 93. 217. The loans contracted had amounted to 530,000,000 francs.

  † b.  To bring on a person (a debt, guilt, etc.). Obs.

1650.  Fuller, Pisgah, IV. iii. § 31. This is a new debt of later date, contracted on themselves by their infidelity.

1657.  Baxter, Acc. Pres. Th., 12. No sinne of a Believer … doth so much as contract on the person a guilt of death or any punishment.

  III.  To draw together, concentrate; to narrow, limit, shorten.

  † 7.  To draw or bring (things) together, collect, concentrate, combine in one. Obs.

1620.  Venner, Via Recta, viii. 179. Much meat doth … contract to the stomacke the spirits … for the concocting of it.

a. 1631.  Donne, To C’tess Huntingdon, 129.

1644.  H. Parker, Jus Pop., 57. As the people were more contracted, so they might the more easily consult together.

1647.  C. Harvey, School of Heart, Wks. (1874), 110. All that the world containes in this one tree Contracted is.

1659.  B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age, 165. The king contracted formidable forces neer Sedan.

1728.  Newton, Chronol. Amended, 176. Theseus contracted those twelve cities into one.

1782.  Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., xi. 34. By contracting into one whole what nature has made multifarious.

  † b.  fig. Obs.

1611.  Tourneur, Ath. Trag., I. iv. 30. With a purpose so Contracted to that absence.

1691–8.  Norris, Pract. Disc., 187. He having his Spiritual Senses well disposed … contracts his Affections upon Heaven and Happiness.

  8.  To draw the parts of (anything) together; to cause to shrink; to knit (the brow).

1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. i. 4. Our whole Kingdome To be contracted in one brow of woe. Ibid. (1607), Timon, I. i. 257. Aches contract, and sterue your supple ioynts.

1661.  Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 157. [Herons] fly holding their legges backwards and their necks contracted.

1797.  Bewick, Brit. Birds (1847), I. 169. By contracting the muscles of the head.

1863.  Geo. Eliot, Romola, I. viii. The companion … whose brow is never contracted by resentment or indignation.

  9.  To reduce to smaller compass as by drawing together; to diminish in extent; to narrow, shorten.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 266. You contract your eye, when you would see sharply.

1653.  Holcroft, Procopius, IV. 125. The tyde is contracted in a narrow passage between two lands.

1697.  Potter, Antiq. Greece, III. xvi. (1715), 135. The Sails were contracted, dilated, or changed from one side to another.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., X. 104. The jutting shores that swell on either side Contract its mouth.

1786.  W. Gilpin, Observ. Pict. Beauty (1788), II. 221. The rocks, contracting the road.

1869.  Phillips, Vesuv., viii. 228. This eruption contracted the area of the lake very sensibly.

  refl.  1664.  Power, Exp. Philos., I. 9. There is a white Film or Bladder, which continually contracts and dilates itself.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 127, ¶ 10. A Touch of your Pen will make it contract itself, like the Sensitive Plant.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VIII. 183. That power they have of lengthening and contracting themselves at pleasure.

  b.  fig. To make smaller, reduce in amount, diminish the extent or scope of: to narrow.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. iii. § 7. He that cannot contract the sight of his mind as well as disperse and dilate it, wanteth a great faculty.

a. 1665.  J. Goodwin, Filled w. the Spirit (1867), 19. It is the nature of grief to contract the heart.

1666.  Pepys, Diary (1879), VI. 56. He hopes shortly to contract his expence.

1750.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 49, ¶ 7. Selfishness has contracted their understandings.

1878.  Huxley, Physiogr., 37. The natural discharge at Thames Head is now contracted.

  c.  fig. To restrict, limit, confine.

1570.  Billingsley, Euclid, VII. Introd. 183. What other thing is in musicke entreated of, then nomber contracted to sound and voyce?

1639.  Heywood, Lond. Peaceable Estate, Wks. 1874, V. 370. Time so contracts us, that we cannot dwell On all.

1663.  Gerbier, Counsel, 15. The reason also for contracting the Balconies within the upright of a Colum.

1872.  Yeats, Growth Comm., 56. The ban which contracted its civilisation within fixed limits that could not be extended.

  † d.  To abbreviate, abridge, condense; refl. to speak or write briefly. Obs.

1603.  Bp. Barlow, Confer. Hampton Crt., in Phenix, 1721, I. 139. The Sum and Substance of the Conference … contracted by William Barlow.

1631.  Star Chamb. Cases (Camden), 28. My Lords, tyme being spent I will contract myselfe.

1653.  Cromwell, in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793), 372. Seeing you sit here somewhat uneasy … I shall contract myself, with respect to that.

1676.  Ray, Corr. (1848), 121. What he writes of the Haggard Falcon is contracted out of Latham.

1726.  Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 2. I shall endeavour to contract my relation.

1753.  Torriano, Gangr. Sore Throat, 104. You may, Sir, contract whatever you may judge proper, and make what Use you please of this my Letter.

  e.  Gram. To shorten (a word, syllable, etc.) by combining or eliding some of its elements.

1605.  Camden, Rem. (1637), 74. Contracted from Honoricus.

1659.  Pearson, Creed (1839), 99. Jehoshua, in process of time contracted to Jeshuah.

1751.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 92, ¶ 9. The syllables might be often contracted or dilated at pleasure.

1871.  Roby, Lat. Gram., I. ix. § 222. U + e and u + i are contracted into u in some cases of substantives with u stems.

1884.  Hadley & Allen, Grk. Gram., § 38. A close vowel before an open is seldom contracted. Ibid., § 409, note. [In Homer] verbs in -οω are contracted as in Attic.

  intr.  1884.  Ibid., § 37, note. The Ionic … has uncontracted forms in very many cases where the Attic contracts.

  f.  Pros. (see quot.)

1884.  Hadley & Allen, Grk. Gram., § 1080. Resolution and Contraction.—Many kinds of verse allow … the use of a long syllable in place of two short ones, which are then said to be contracted.

  10.  intr. (for refl.) To become smaller in extent or volume; to narrow, shorten, shrink.

1642.  Wilkins, Math. Magick, II. v. (1648), 182. Like the fins of a fish to contract and dilate.

1731.  Arbuthnot, Aliments (L.). [It] gives room to the fibres to contract.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., II. xxxi. 409. In passing from the solid to the liquid state, ice, like bismuth, contracts.

  fig.  1764.  Goldsm., Trav., 184. But calm, and bred in ignorance and toil, Each wish contracting fits him to the soil.