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
narrow tract 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.
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.) 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.
The church clergy at that time writ the best collection
of tracts against popery that ever appeared. --Swift.
{Tracts for the Times}. See {Tractarian}.