Treatise

sb. Forms: 4–5 tretis, -ys, -ice, (4 -es, -esse, -yss, -ies, 5 -ise, -yce), 4–6 tretyse, (5 treetise, -ys); 5 treatis, 5–6 -ys(e, -yce, 6 -es, -esse, -ice, -ize, 6– treatise. β. 6 tractise, -yse; traictise, treactise. [a. AF. tretiz masc. (one instance c. 1250 in Godef.) representing an OF. *traitëïz, f. traitier, F. traiter, TREAT v. The forms tract-, traict-, treact- were 16th-c. ‘etymological’ spellings after L.]

  1.  A book or writing that treats of some particular subject; commonly (in mod. use always), one containing a formal or methodical discussion or exposition of the principles of the subject; formerly more widely used for a literary work in general: see also b, c.

13[?].  Cast. Love, Introd. Her byginnet a tretys … Þat bisschop Grosteyȝt made, ywis.

a. 1375.  Lay Folks Mass Bk., App. IV. 1. Her techeþ þys tretys þenne Hou mon scholde here hys masse.

c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., Prol. 1. To lerne the tretis of the astrelabie.

c. 1400.  Cursor M., 27548 (Cott. Galba). Here will I tell a schort tretice Made of þe seuyn dedly vice.

1422.  trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 236. Here endyth the tretyse of Physnomye, and begynnynge the tretyce of gouernance of helthe.

1493.  Dives & Paup. (Colophon). Here endith a compendiouse treetise dyalogue of Diues & paup.

1526.  Tindale, Luke i. 1. For as moche as many have taken in hond to compyle a treates off thoo thynges which are surely knowen amonge vs. Ibid., Acts i. 1. In my fyrst treatise (Deare frende Theophilus) I have written off all that Jesus began to do and teache.

c. 1530.  Crt. of Love, iv. That she, my lady, of her worthinesse, Accept in gree this little short treatesse.

1530.  Baynton, in Palsgr., Introd. 14. Whiche compendious tractyse … Whiche brefe traictise.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., E.’s Pref. This present treactise.

1588.  Marprel. Epist. (Arb.), 27. In my next treatize, I shal proue the matter to be cleare.

1633.  in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 76. I remember ’tis a letter, noe treatise, I have in hand.

1741–3.  Wesley, Extract of Jrnl. (1749), 15. Turretin’s history … (a dry, heavy, barren treatise).

1869.  Farrar, Fam. Speech, iv. (1873), 107. You will see it stated in many modern treatises.

  † b.  A story, tale, narrative (spoken or written).

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 642 (670). The whiche tale a-noon right as Criseyde Had herd, she … Ful bysily to Iuppiter by-soughte Yeue hym myschaunce þat þis tretis broughte.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 226. To rehearse an olde treatise of an auncient Hermitte [etc.].

1605.  Shaks., Macb., V. v. 12. The time ha’s beene … my Fell of haire Would at a dismall Treatise rowze, and stirre.

  † c.  A descriptive treatment, description, account (of something). Obs.

1570–6.  Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 151. I will here conclude the treatise of Dover.

1601.  Dolman, La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1618), III. 686. The circles of the sphere,… the treatise whereof I refer to you.

  † 2.  Negotiation, treating, discussion of terms; arrangement of terms. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 36 (64). Whan Calkas knew þis tretys sholde holde In Consistorie a-mong þe Grekes soone.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XIX. 145. The scottis messingeres thar he fand Of pese and rest to haf tretise. The kyng wist schir yngerame ves vise.

c. 1440.  Partonope, 1336. Better … to dye Than in tretyse trust her curtesy.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XX. xix. 831. I shalle sende a messager vnto my lord Arthur a treatyce for to take, for better is pees than allwayes warre.

1529.  Rastell, Pastyme, Hist. Brit. (1811), 216. By the treatyse of the Countess of Henaude … a meane was made for a truse.

a. 1641.  Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon., iv. (1642), 253. Antony and Octavius were reconciled;… both ready and willing to yeeld to treatise, as standing in feare, the one of the other.

  † b.  A treaty; = TREATY sb. 3 a, b. Obs.

1460.  Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 216. Thanne [1354] was the town [Oxford] put under interdict … tyl a tretys was mad thus.

c. 1475.  Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls), VIII. 442. A tretys was made at Brugges.

1489.  Barbour’s Bruce, XX. 47 (Edinb. MS.). And monymentis and lettrys ser, That thai off Ingland that tyme had,… In-till that tretyss wp thai gaff.

1530.  Palsgr., 282/2. Treatyse bytwene two princes, traicte, trete.

1544.  A. Cope, Hannibal & Scipio, 133 b. Also graunted in that treatise of peace.

  † 3.  (?) An entreaty; = TREAT sb.¹ 2, TREATY 4.

  (But the quots. may possibly belong to sense 2.)

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, IV. xxv. 153. They asked herborow, but the man of the courtelage wold not lodge them for no treatyce that they coude treate. Ibid., VI. xv. 207. Syr launcelot leue that swerd behynde the, or thou wil dye for it. I leue it not sayd syr launcelot for no treatys.

  Hence † Treatise v., trans. to make a treatise on, to treat or write of; † Treatising, writing of a treatise, treatment of a subject.

1502.  Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), V. vii. 413. Y^e dampnacyon of the body that hath ben the meane of synne hath ben fyrst treatysed.

1605.  Hieron, Short Dialogue, 15. Some … will … distast this your froothy and wordy treatising.