Category:Tract

Tract, n. Etym: [abbrev.fr. tractate.]

Defn: a written discourse or dissertation, generally of short extent; A short treatise, especially on practical religion. The church clergy at that writ the best collection of tracts against Popery that ever appeared. Swift. Tracts for the times. See tractarian.

Tract Tract, n. Etym: [l. tractus a drawing, train, track, course, tract of Land, from trahere tractum, to draw. Senses 4 and 5 are perhaps due To confusion with track. See trace,v., and cf. Tratt.]

1. Something drawn out or extended; expanse. "the deep tract of Hell." Milton.

2. A region or quantity of land or water, of indefinite extent; an Area; as, an unexplored tract of sea. A very high mountain joined to the mainland by a narrowtract of Earth. Addison.

3. Traits; features; lineaments. [obs.] The discovery of a man's self by the tracts of his countenance is a Great weakness. Bacon.

4. The footprint of a wild beast. [obs.] Dryden.

5. Track; trace. [obs.] Efface all tract of its traduction. Sir t. Browne. But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forthon, leaving no tract Behind. Shak.

6. Treatment; exposition. [obs.] Shak.

7. Continuity or extension of anything; as, the tract of speech. [obs.] Older.

8. Continued or protracted duration; length; extent. "improved by Tract of time." Milton.

9. (r. C. Ch.)

Defn: verses of scripture sung at mass, instead of the alleluia, from Septuagesima sunday till the saturday befor easter;-so called because Sung tractim,or without a break, by one voice, instead of by many as In the antiphons.

Syn. -- region; district; quarter; essay; treatise; dissertation.

Tract Tract, v. t.

Defn: to trace out; to track; also, to draw out; to protact. [obs.] Spenser. B. Jonson.