Also 5–7 tracte, 6 trackte, 6–7 trackt. [ad. L. tract-us (u-stem), a drawing, dragging, pulling, trailing; a train, track, course, a tract of space or time, course, progress, duration, protraction, f. ppl. stem of trahĕre to draw, drag. In certain senses, this word fell together with TRACE sb.1 and TRACK sb., and was sometimes even used in the senses of these words; in others it corresponds with the cognate F. trait, OF. traict, also tract:—L. tractus.]
I. † 1. The drawing out, duration, continuance, process, passing, or lapse of time; the course of time. Cf. L. tractus temporum, F. trait de temps.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., III. lvi. 36. This in tracte of tyme made hym welthy.
1575. Fenton, Gold. Ep. (1577), 6. As tracte of time carryeth with it a lawe of forgetfulnesse of things past.
1651. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., II. xxiv. 109. The Seasons now in tract were of short continuance.
1658. Rowland, Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 946. We conclude this art … to be very ancient, and derived to us by long tract of time.
1676. Hale, Contempl., I. 294. In the tract of long life a man is sure to meet with more sicknesses.
a. 1734. North, Exam., I. ii. § 30 (1740), 45. Which being, perpetually inculcated, in the Tract of a few Years, created in the People prodigious Resentments.
† b. Protraction (of time), deferring, putting off, dilatory proceeding, delay. (Cf. TRACT v.2 2.)
1503–4. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 28. Preamble, By whiche longe tracte of tyme the seid sueters … shulde be disconforted.
1523. Wolsey, in Fiddes, Life, II. (1726), 76. That no tract or deley bee used therein.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXX. xvi. 751. They sought for nothing else but delaies and tract of time.
c. A space or extent of time, a period. (In later use regarded as transf. from 3.)
1494. Fabyan, Chron., V. cii. 76. Theodebertus … of his … vncles was greuously warred by longe tracte of tyme.
1524. Wolsey, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), I. iv. 53. Considering the tract of time that is requisite.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 80. This short tyme and smal tract of my mortal life.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 143. A tract of three hundred sixty and foure yeares.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 169. Waiting for a long tract of serene weather, which may not come.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xlvi. 9. A lifelong tract of time reveal’d.
1853. Maurice, Proph. & Kings, iii. 43. Utterly unlike and separated by tracts of time and space.
1865. Palgrave, Hymn, ‘Thou say’st, Take up thy cross,’ iii. Dim tracts of time divide Those golden days from me.
2. The continuance or continued duration of some action or state; the course or continuity of a narrative, etc.; a continued series. Now rare or Obs.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 65. The whole tract of a Comedy, shoulde be full of delight.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 178. Yet tract of affliction, much misery, often over-reaching by subtilty of adversaryes, doth finally purge out those grosse-witted humours.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., IX. 407. They had wrot the whole tract of his abhominable vices to the Emperour.
1661. Feltham, Resolves, II. lviii. 307. I do not remember that we read the name of either Dice or Gaming in the tract of either Scripture.
1679. Lauderdale Papers (Camden), 261. A long continued tract of violence and oppressione upon ws.
1732. Macfarlane, Geneal. Collect. (1900), 310. He caused Apprehend and Execute at Crief for a train and tract of Depredations Macobertus Strowanus.
1773. Erskine, Inst. Law Scotl., I. i. § 47. An uniform tract of decisions of the court of session … is … accounted as part of our customary law.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., IX. i. (1872), III. 73. Perhaps a sudden tract of good fortune … would have made me too proud.
3. A stretch or extent of territory, etc.; a space or expanse of land (more rarely, of water, air, etc.); a region, district. Cf. L. tractus.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 8. The narrowe tracte of the Sea by the coastes of Grouelande.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 126. All the Northerne tract of Britaine.
1654. Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Warrs Flanders, 73. The Ocean first washing the said two Provinces for a long trackt of ground.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 280. This vast tract of land.
1776. Toplady, Hymn, ‘Rock of ages,’ iv. When I soar through tracts unknown.
1814. Chalmers, Evid. Chr. Revel., x. 278. Those remote tracts beyond the limits of our astronomy.
1834–5. J. Phillips, Geol., in Encycl. Metrop., VI. 564/2. The great central plateau … is chiefly a granitic and porphyritic tract.
1886. Stevenson, Kidnapped, 120. I spied a tract of water … which … boiled white all over.
fig. 1817. Chalmers, Astron. Disc., iii. (1852), 88. We do think that this lays open a very interesting tract … of most legitimate and sober-minded speculation.
1902. F. W. H. Myers, Wordsworth, viii. 90. Large tracts of it [the Excursion] have little claim to the name of poetry.
b. Nat. Hist., etc. A region or area of some natural structure, as a mineral formation, or the body of an animal or plant; most commonly one extending longitudinally (cf. 8).
spec. (a) Anat. The whole extent of an organ or system of organs, as the alimentary or digestive tract, or a continuous longitudinal structure, such as one strand or division of a nerve-cord; esp. applied to particular regions of the brain or spinal cord, as the olfactory, optic, pyramidal, etc., tracts. (b) Ornith. A feathered area of the skin of a bird (= PTERYLA), as distinguished from a featherless space.
1811. Pinkerton, Petralogy, II. 442. This pumice … commonly lies in long tracts, in the direction of which its vesicles are sometimes lengthened.
1841–71. T. R. Jones, Anim. Kingd. (ed. 4), 437. The probable existence … of distinct tracts of nervous matter in the composition of the central chain of ganglia.
1867. Feather-tracts [see PTERYLA].
1879. St. George’s Hosp. Rep., IX. 127. General congestion of the alimentary tract.
1894. Newton, Dict. Birds, s.v. Pterylosis. The principal pterylæ or feathered tracts are as follows:— (1) Spinal tract…. (2) Ventral tract…. (3) Neck-tract [etc.].
attrib. 1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 535. The tract fibres of each side must be connected with the anterior cornua on both sides. Ibid., VII. 79. An instance in which a tract degeneration was established.
II. † 4. The action of drawing or pulling (in quots. fig.); attraction. Obs. rare.
1616. B. Jonson, Devil an Ass, II. ii. He’ll ne’r owne mee, But I am taken! the fine tract of it Pulls mee along!
1620. J. Pyper, trans. Hist. Astrea, I. VII. 226. She could feele the tracts of Loue.
† 5. Drawing, or tracing (of lines). Obs. rare.
1677. Gilpin, Demonol. (1867), 22. Lines and figures are better known from mathematical instruction, than by their bare tract as written in dust.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, I. 19/1. The Ordinaries are made, and formed of Lines diversly composed; And according to the divers Tracts and Forms, of those said Lines, they do receive a divers Shape and variation of Names.
III. A material line drawn: = F. trait (see TRAIT).
† 6. Her.: (a) = TRESSURE; (b) = TRACK sb. 7
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Her., e vj b. Off tractys in armys. Afore it is sayd of borduris in armys, now it folowith to se of tractis or lynys, and first of a symple tract; and they be calde tractis for as mych as the felde remaynyng of tharmys as wele with in as with owte, & an other lyne is drawyn of an other colowre … to the maner of a shelde. Ibid. He berith asure a playn tract of golde. Ibid., e vij. Thys tract is other wyle dowbull as in tharmys of the kyng of Scottelonde.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, I. v. 17. When the field and the Circumference or Tract about the same,… be both of one metall, colour or furre, then shall you not terme it a bordure. Ibid., II. vii. 66. I purpose to present to your view a Threefold Orle or Tract, which doth include the twofold.
† 7. A lineament, a feature; = TRAIT 4, 5. Obs.
1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. I. Trophies, 1011. Th’ admired Tracts of a bewitching Face.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., I. 24. Like to the heauenly tract and resemblance of our blessed Sauiour.
1715. trans. C’tess D’Aunoy’s Wks., 193. His Hair brown, his Tracts all regular, his Teeth fine.
1775. C. Johnston, Pilgrim, 126. To account for some tracts in their national character.
IV. Senses approaching or coinciding with those of TRACK and TRACE.
8. Course, path, way, route; with of or possessive, the course or path traversed by a person, animal, or moving object: = TRACK sb. 3, 4. Now rare or Obs.: usually expressed by track.
(In quot. 1799, applied to a course or channel for water.)
1555. Eden, Decades, 255. Vnderstanding … that if I shulde sayle by the way of the northwest wynde, I shulde by a shorter tracte coomme to India [etc.].
1616. W. Forde, Serm., 28. Like a bird in the aire, whose tract the aire closeth.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 170. A loose and flying sand,… accumulated into such heaps as upon any great wind the tract is lost, and passengers (too oft) overwhelmed and stifled.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 201. In the tract of the Manila ship.
1798. Charlotte Smith, Yng. Philos., IV. 279. Perceiving that in the lane was certainly the most beaten tract, I hurried along it.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 302. When the tract for conveying the water has been once made with judgment, it may remain for centuries.
1823. J. F. Cooper, Pioneers, v. The tract for the sleighs was much more limited.
1843. Nicholson, Hist. & Trad. Tales, 196. I … will pursue his tract no longer.
1865. Alex. Smith, Summ. Skye (1880), 143. In Skye one is every now and again coming on the tract of the distinguished travellers.
9. fig. Course (of action, etc.); manner of proceeding, way, path: = TRACK sb. 5. rare or Obs.
1566. Painter, Pal. Pleas., I. Pref. 8. The other prescribeth a directe pathe to treade the tracte of this present life.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., II. ii. (1588), 125. In the Commission of the Peace, they are both conueied vnder this one tracte of speach.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., Pref. A j. A Poeme … whose vnusuall tract may perhaps seeme difficult, to the female Sex.
1632. J. Featly, Hon. Chast., 19. Let it suffice that I walke in the vulgar tract, and divide sinne onely into originall and actuall.
1677. Hale, Contempl., II. 25. In the same path and tract which leads us to Glorifie God, which is our Duty.
1752. Hume, Ess. & Treat. (1777), II. 23. Any particular thought which breaks in upon the regular tract, or chain of ideas.
1834. H. Miller, Scenes & Leg., xxvii. (1857), 394. Men … who, seeing nothing very knowing in simple honesty, exert their ingenuity in the opposite tract.
10. A mark or impression marking the course of a person, animal, or thing; a footprint, trail: = TRACE sb.1 4, 5: cf. TRACK sb. 1. Now rare or Obs.; usually expressed by track.
a. 1547. Surrey, Æneid, II. 920. A blasing sterre, dragging a brand of flame … By a long tract appointing us the way.
1565. Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 151. There appeared … the very tracts and steps of Christs feet.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 390/1. Orbita, the trace, tract, or furrow of a cart wheele.
1595. Blanchardyn, v. B j b. He had not ridden long, but he perceiued the tracktes & footsteps of a horse.
1607. Shaks., Timon, I. i. 50. But flies an Eagle flight … Leauing no Tract behinde.
1632. Guillim, Heraldry, III. xiv. (ed. 2), 175. Termes of footing or treading…. That of a Fallow Deere [or] Boare is termed Tract or Treading.
1709. Dampier, Voy., III. II. 35. I saw the Tract of an Alligator here.
1807. in Halliwell, Life Shaks. (1887), II. 143. There was only one waggon tract along the lane.
1857. H. Miller, Test. Rocks, xi. 435. I was struck … to see how nearly the tract of a small shore crab along the wet sand, resembled them.
† b. = TRACK sb. 8. Obs.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 26 § 47. If any goodes … be stolen … thenne upon suite theror hadde and made, the tracte shalbe folowed from Towneshipp to Towneship.
† 11. A mark remaining where something has been; an indication, vestige (lit. or fig.): = TRACE sb.1 6. Obs.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. clxviii. 1040. Wee shall be handled with such rigour as shall make all them to tremble which see but the tracts thereof.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 281. Walles, which, as men may see by their tract, tooke up a mile in circuit.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 225. But no tract therof [of the Labyrinth] remained in the days of Pliny.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. x. 37. To obscure the diviner part, and efface all tract of its traduction.
1698. J. Crull, Muscovy, 57. The Ruins appear now in some places six foot high,… the Tract being quite lost in others.
