Hypertext Webster Gateway: "treat"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Treat \Treat\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Treated}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Treating}.] [{OE}. treten, OF. traitier, F. traiter, from L.
tractare to draw violently, to handle, manage, treat, v.
intens. from trahere, tractum, to draw. See {Trace}, v. t.,
and cf. {Entreat}, {Retreat}, {Trait}.]
1. To handle; to manage; to use; to bear one's self toward;
as, to treat prisoners cruelly; to treat children kindly.
2. To discourse on; to handle in a particular manner, in
writing or speaking; as, to treat a subject diffusely.
3. To entertain with food or drink, especially the latter, as
a compliment, or as an expression of friendship or regard;
as, to treat the whole company.
4. To negotiate; to settle; to make terms for. [Obs.]
To treat the peace, a hundred senators Shall be
commissioned. --Dryden.
5. (Med.) To care for medicinally or surgically; to manage in
the use of remedies or appliances; as, to treat a disease,
a wound, or a patient.
6. To subject to some action; to apply something to; as, to
treat a substance with sulphuric acid. --Ure.
7. To entreat; to beseech. [Obs.] --Ld. Berners.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Treat \Treat\, v. i.
1. To discourse; to handle a subject in writing or speaking;
to make discussion; -- usually with of; as, Cicero treats
of old age and of duties.
And, shortly of this story for to treat. --Chaucer.
Now of love they treat. --Milton.
2. To negotiate; to come to terms of accommodation; -- often
followed by with; as, envoys were appointed to treat with
France.
Inform us, will the emperor treat! --Swift.
3. To give a gratuitous entertainment, esp. of food or drink,
as a compliment.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Treat \Treat\, n.
1. A parley; a conference. [Obs.]
Bid him battle without further treat. --Spenser.
2. An entertainment given as an expression of regard.
3. That which affords entertainment; a gratification; a
satisfaction; as, the concert was a rich treat.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
treat
n : something considered choice to eat [syn: {dainty}, {delicacy},
{goody}, {kickshaw}]
v 1: interact in a certain way; "Do right by her"; "Treat him
with caution, please"; "Handle the press reporters
gently" [syn: {handle}, {do by}]
2: subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying
for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition;
"process cheese"; "process hair"; "treat the water so it
can be drunk"; "treat the lawn with chemicals" ; "treat an
oil spill" [syn: {process}]
3: provide treatment for; "The doctor treated my broken leg";
"The nurses cared for the bomb victims"; "The patient must
be treated right away or she will die"; "Treat the
infection with antibiotics" [syn: {care for}]
4: deal with verbally or in some form of artistic expression;
"This book deals with incest"; "The course covered all of
Western Civilization"; "The new book treats the history of
China" [syn: {cover}, {handle}, {plow}, {deal}, {address}]
5: provide with a gift or entertainment; "Grandmother always
treated us to the circus"; "I like to treat myself to a
day at a spa when I am depressed"
6: provide with choice or abundant food or drink; "Don't worry
about the expensive wine--I'm treating"; "She treated her
houseguests with good food every night" [syn: {regale}]
7: engage in negotiations in order to reach an agreement; "they
had to treat with the King"
8: regard or consider in a specific way; "I treated his
advances as a joke"
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