21 results for: contract

Contract WorkFlow Mgt Control the flow of document signatures & approvals www.DocuSign.com	Sponsored Links

Great Corporate Attorney Avoid costly lawsuits Protect your assets www.hkwllp.com

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

con·tract

Audio Help [n., adj., and usually for v. 15–17, 21, 22 kon-trakt; otherwise v. kuh

n-trakt] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	an agreement between two or more parties for the doing or not doing of something specified.

2.	an agreement enforceable by law.

3.	the written form of such an agreement.

4.	the division of law dealing with contracts.

5.	Also called contract bridge. a variety of bridge in which the side that wins the bid can earn toward game only that number of tricks named in the contract, additional points being credited above the line. Compare auction bridge.

(in auction or contract bridge)

a.	a commitment by the declarer and his or her partner to take six tricks plus the number specified by the final bid made.

b.	the final bid itself.

c.	the number of tricks so specified, plus six.

7.	the formal agreement of marriage; betrothal.

8.	Slang. an arrangement for a hired assassin to kill a specific person.

–adjective

9.	under contract; governed or arranged by special contract: a contract carrier.

–verb (used with object)

10.	to draw together or into smaller compass; draw the parts of together: to contract a muscle.

11.	to wrinkle: to contract the brows.

12.	to shorten (a word, phrase, etc.) by combining or omitting some of its elements: Contracting “do not” yields “don't.”

13.	to get or acquire, as by exposure to something contagious: to contract a disease.

14.	to incur, as a liability or obligation: to contract a debt.

15.	to settle or establish by agreement: to contract an alliance.

16.	to assign (a job, work, project, etc.) by contract: The publisher contracted the artwork.

17.	to enter into an agreement with: to contract a free-lancer to do the work.

18.	to enter into (friendship, acquaintance, etc.).

19.	to betroth.

–verb (used without object)

20.	to become drawn together or reduced in compass; become smaller; shrink: The pupils of his eyes contracted in the light.

21.	to enter into an agreement: to contract for snow removal.

—Verb phrase

22.	contract out, to hire an outside contractor to produce or do.

—Idiom

23.	put out a contract on, Slang. to hire or attempt to hire an assassin to kill (someone): The mob put out a contract on the informer.

[Origin: 1275–1325; (n.) ME (< AF) < L contractus undertaking a transaction, agreement, equiv. to contrac-, var. s. of contrahere to draw in, bring together, enter into an agreement (con- con- + trahere to drag, pull; cf. traction) + -tus suffix of v. action; (v.) < L contractus, ptp. of contrahere

]

—Related forms

con·tract·ee, noun

con·tract·i·ble, adjective

con·tract·i·bil·i·ty, con·tract·i·ble·ness, noun

con·tract·i·bly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. See agreement. 10. reduce, shorten, lessen, narrow, shrivel, shrink. Contract, compress, concentrate, condense imply retaining original content but reducing the amount of space occupied. Contract means to cause to draw more closely together: to contract a muscle. Compress suggests fusing to become smaller by means of fairly uniform external pressure: to compress gases into liquid form. Concentrate implies causing to gather around a point: to concentrate troops near an objective; to concentrate one's strength. Condense implies increasing the compactness, or thickening the consistency of a homogeneous mass: to condense milk. It is also used to refer to the reducing in length of a book or the like.

—Antonyms 10. expand.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Contractor Find Top Rated Contractors. Compare Up to 4 Quotes Now. www.ServiceMagic.com	Sponsored Links

Ask A Lawyer Online Now 12 Lawyers, Experts Are Online! Ask A Question, Get An Answer ASAP Law.JustAnswer.com

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
contract

To learn more about contract visit Britannica.com

Silicon Valley Law Firm
Technology Licenses & Agreements Software, Internet, Computer Law
www.BoadweeLaw.com

Sponsored Link

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

con·tract Audio Help (kŏn'trākt') Pronunciation Key
n.

1. An agreement between two or more parties, especially one that is written and enforceable by law. See Synonyms at bargain.
2. The writing or document containing such an agreement.
3. The last and highest bid of a suit in one hand in bridge.
4. The number of tricks thus bid.
5. Contract bridge.
The branch of law dealing with formal agreements between parties.
Marriage as a formal agreement; betrothal.
Games
1. The last and highest bid of a suit in one hand in bridge.
2. The number of tricks thus bid.
3. Contract bridge.
A paid assignment to murder someone: put out a contract on the mobster's life.

v. (kən-trākt', kŏn'trākt') con·tract·ed, con·tract·ing, con·tracts

v. tr.

To enter into by contract; establish or settle by formal agreement: contract a marriage.
To acquire or incur: contract obligations; contract a serious illness.
1. To reduce in size by drawing together; shrink.
2. To pull together; wrinkle.
Grammar To shorten (a word or words) by omitting or combining some of the letters or sounds, as do not to don't.

v. intr.

To enter into or make an agreement: contract for garbage collection.
To become reduced in size by or as if by being drawn together: The pupils of the patient's eyes contracted.

Phrasal Verb(s):
contract out
To engage a person outside an organization by contract to undertake or produce.

[Middle English, from Latin contractus, past participle of contrahere, to draw together, make a contract : com-, com- + trahere, to draw.]

con·tract'i·bil'i·ty, con·tract'i·ble·ness n., con·tract'i·ble adj.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
contract

c.1315, from L. contractus, pp. of contrahere "to draw together," metaphorically, "to make a bargain," from com- "together" + trahere "to draw" (see tract (1)). Noun came first, then verb and variant meaning "become narrowed, get smaller," especially of a withered limb (both 17c.). U.S. underworld slang sense of "arrangement to kill someone" first recorded 1940. Contractor in the modern sense is from 1724.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

contract
noun
1.	a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law
2.	(contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make
3.	a variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid
verb
1.	enter into a contractual arrangement
2.	engage by written agreement; "They signed two new pitchers for the next season" [syn: sign]
3.	squeeze or press together; "she compressed her lips"; "the spasm contracted the muscle" [syn: compress]
4.	be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness; "He got AIDS"; "She came down with pneumonia"; "She took a chill"
5.	become smaller or draw together; "The fabric shrank"; "The balloon shrank" [syn: shrink] [ant: expand, stretch]
6.	make smaller; "The heat contracted the woollen garment"
7.	compress or concentrate; "Congress condensed the three-year plan into a six-month plan" [syn: condense]
8.	make or become more narrow or restricted; "The selection was narrowed"; "The road narrowed" [syn: narrow] [ant: widen]
9.	reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened" [syn: abridge] [ant: dilate]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
contract1 [kənˈtrӕkt] verb

to make or become smaller, less, shorter, tighter etc
Example: Metals expand when heated and contract when cooled; `I am' is often contracted to `I'm'; Muscles contract.

Arabic:	يُقَلِّص، يَتَقَلَّص
Chinese (Simplified):	收缩
Chinese (Traditional):	收縮
Czech:	stahovat (se), zmenšit
Danish:	trække sammen; trække sig sammen
Dutch:	samentrekken
Estonian:	kokku tõmbama, kokku tõmbuma
Finnish:	supistaa, supistua
French:	contracter
German:	zusammenziehen
Greek:	συσπώ, συστέλλω, συστέλλομαι
Hungarian:	összehúz(ódik), összevon
Icelandic:	dragast saman
Indonesian:	mengerut
Italian:	contrarre

Japanese:	収縮する
Korean:	축소되다, 축소하다
Latvian:	saraukt; savilkt; saraukties; savilkties; samazināt; saīsināt
Lithuanian:	su(si)traukti, trauktis, (su)trumpinti
Norwegian:	trekke (seg) sammen
Polish:	kurczyć (się), zmniejszać (się), skracać (się)
Portuguese (Brazil):	contrair
Portuguese (Portugal):	contrair
Romanian:	a (se) contracta; a (se) contrage
Russian:	сжимать(ся); сокращать(ся)
Slovak:	sťahovať (sa)
Slovenian:	skrajšati, skrčiti (se)
Spanish:	contraer
Swedish:	dra samman (ihop), dra ihop sig, krympa, förkorta
Turkish:	büz(ül)mek, kısal(t)mak

contract2 [kənˈtrӕkt] verb

American ˈkontrakt to promise legally in writing
Example: They contracted to supply us with cable.

Arabic:	يَتَعَهَّد، يَعْقِد إتِفاقِيَّة، يَلْتَزِم
Chinese (Simplified):	订契约
Chinese (Traditional):	訂契約
Czech:	smluvně se zavázat
Danish:	slutte kontrakt
Dutch:	een contract sluiten
Estonian:	lepingut sõlmima
Finnish:	tehdä kirjallinen sopimus
French:	s'engager (par contrat) (à)
German:	sich vertraglich verpflichten
Greek:	υπογράφω συμβόλαιο
Hungarian:	szerződik
Icelandic:	gera samning
Indonesian:	mengontrak
Italian:	fare un contratto*, impegnarsi

Japanese:	契約する
Korean:	계약하다
Latvian:	noslēgt (līgumu u. tml.)
Lithuanian:	sudaryti sutartį, įsipareigoti
Norwegian:	undertegne en avtale, *kontrakt
Polish:	podejmować się
Portuguese (Brazil):	fazer um contrato, contratar
Portuguese (Portugal):	firmar um contracto
Romanian:	a se angaja (prin contract) (să)
Russian:	заключать (контракт)
Slovak:	zmluvne sa zaviazať
Slovenian:	obvezati se
Spanish:	comprometerse por contrato a
Swedish:	avtala, förbinda sig
Turkish:	sözleşme yapmak

contract3 [kənˈtrӕkt] verb

to become infected with (a disease)
Example: He contracted malaria.

Arabic:	يَلْتَقِط عَدوى مَرَض، يُصاب
Chinese (Simplified):	得病
Chinese (Traditional):	得病
Czech:	chytit (nemoc)
Danish:	pådrage sig
Dutch:	oplopen
Estonian:	nakatuma
Finnish:	saada
French:	contracter
German:	zuziehen
Greek:	κολλώ (ασθένεια)
Hungarian:	megkap (betegséget)
Icelandic:	sÿkjast af
Indonesian:	terjangkit
Italian:	contrarre

Japanese:	病気にかかる
Korean:	(병에) 걸리다
Latvian:	saslimt
Lithuanian:	gauti, užsikrėsti
Norwegian:	pådra seg
Polish:	zarażać się
Portuguese (Brazil):	contrair
Portuguese (Portugal):	contrair
Romanian:	a contracta
Russian:	заболеть
Slovak:	nakaziť sa
Slovenian:	nalesti
Spanish:	contraer
Swedish:	ådra sig
Turkish:	yakalanmak, kapmak

contract4 [kənˈtrӕkt] verb

to promise (in marriage)

Arabic:	يَعِد، يَلْتَزِم، يَتَعَهَّد
Chinese (Simplified):	订婚约
Chinese (Traditional):	訂婚約
Czech:	uzavřít (sňatek), slíbit
Danish:	indgå; slutte
Dutch:	sluiten
Estonian:	(abielu) sõlmima
Finnish:	solmia
French:	s'engager
German:	schließen
Greek:	υπόσχομαι (γάμο)
Hungarian:	köt (házasságot)
Icelandic:	strengja hjúskaparheit
Indonesian:	berjanji
Italian:	contrarre matrimonio*

Japanese:	婚約する
Korean:	약혼하다
Latvian:	stāties laulībā
Lithuanian:	susižadėti
Norwegian:	inngå (ekteskap)
Polish:	zobowiązywać się
Portuguese (Brazil):	comprometer-se em casamento
Portuguese (Portugal):	contrair
Romanian:	a promite
Russian:	обручаться
Slovak:	sľúbiť
Slovenian:	zaročiti se
Spanish:	contraer (matrimonio)
Swedish:	ingå
Turkish:	söz kesmek

contract [kənˈtrӕktˈkontrӕkt] noun

a legal written agreement
Example: He has a four-year contract (of employment) with us; The firm won a contract for three new aircraft.

Arabic:	عَقْد، إلتِزام، تَعَهُّد، إتِّفاقِيَّه
Chinese (Simplified):	契约，合同
Chinese (Traditional):	契約，合同
Czech:	kontrakt
Danish:	kontrakt; aftale
Dutch:	contract
Estonian:	leping
Finnish:	sopimus
French:	contrat
German:	der Vertrag, der Auftrag
Greek:	συμβόλαιο
Hungarian:	szerződés
Icelandic:	samningur
Indonesian:	kontrak
Italian:	contratto

Japanese:	契約
Korean:	계약(서)
Latvian:	kontrakts; līgums; vienošanās
Lithuanian:	kontraktas, sutartis
Norwegian:	kontrakt, avtale
Polish:	kontrakt, umowa
Portuguese (Brazil):	contrato
Portuguese (Portugal):	contracto
Romanian:	contract
Russian:	контракт
Slovak:	zmluva
Slovenian:	pogodba, sporazum
Spanish:	contrato
Swedish:	kontrakt
Turkish:	kontrat

See also: contraction, contractor

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
contract

A legally binding agreement between two or more parties.

[Chapter:] Business and Economics

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

con·tract (kn-trkt, kntrkt)
v. con·tract·ed, con·tract·ing, con·tracts

To reduce in size by drawing together.
To become reduced in size by or as if by being drawn together, as the pupil of the eye.
To acquire or incur by contagion or infection.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: con·tract
Pronunciation: k&n-'trakt also 'kän-"trakt
Function: transitive verb
1 : to become affected with <contract pneumonia>
2 : to reduce to smaller size by or as if by squeezing or drawing together <contract a muscle> contract intransitive senses
: to draw together so as to become diminished in size; also : to shorten and broaden <muscle contracts in tetanus> —con·tract·ibil·i·ty /k&n-"trak-t&-'bil-&t-E, "kän-/ noun plural -ties
—con·tract·ible /k&n-'trak-t&-b&l, 'kän-"/ adjective

Wallstreet Words - Cite This Source - Share This

contract

In futures trading, an agreement between two parties to make and take delivery of a specified commodity on a given date at a predetermined location.
In options trading, an agreement by the writer either to buy (if a put) or to sell (if a call) a given asset at a predetermined price until a certain date. The holder of the option is under no obligation to act.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: ²contract
Function: transitive verb
1 : to undertake or establish by a contract
2 : to purchase (as goods or services) on a contract basis —often used with out intransitive verb : to make a contract

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: ¹con·tract
Pronunciation: 'kän-"trakt
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin contractus from contrahere to draw together, enter into (a relationship or agreement), from com- with, together + trahere to draw
1 : an agreement between two or more parties that creates in each party a duty to do or not do something and a right to performance of the other's duty or a remedy for the breach of the other's duty; also : a document embodying such an agreement —see also ACCEPT, BARGAIN, BREACH, CAUSE 4, CONSENT, CONSIDERATION, DUTY, MEETING OF THE MINDS, OBLIGATION, OFFER, PERFORMANCE, PROMISE, RESCIND, SOCIAL CONTRACT, SUBCONTRACT Uniform Commercial Code in the IMPORTANT LAWS section
NOTE: Contracts must be made by parties with the necessary capacity (as age or mental soundness) and must have a lawful, not criminal, object. Except in Louisiana, a valid contract also requires consideration, mutuality of obligations, and a meeting of the minds. In Louisiana, a valid contract requires the consent of the parties and a cause for the contract in addition to capacity and a lawful object.

accessory contract
: a contract (as a security agreement) made to secure the performance of another obligation —compare PRINCIPAL CONTRACT in this entry

ad·he·sion contract
/ad-'hE-zh&n-/
: CONTRACT OF ADHESION in this entry

aleatory contract
: a contract in which either party's performance is dependent on an uncertain event

bilateral contract
: a contract in which both parties have promised to perform —compare UNILATERAL CONTRACT in this entry

commutative contract
in the civil law of Louisiana : a contract in which the obligations of the parties to perform are equal to each other in value

constructive contract
: QUASI CONTRACT in this entry

contract for deed
: LAND INSTALLMENT CONTRACT in this entry

contract implied in fact
: IMPLIED CONTRACT 1 in this entry

contract implied in law
: QUASI CONTRACT in this entry

contract of adhesion
: a contract that is not negotiated by the parties and that is usually embodied in a standardized form prepared by the dominant party

contract under seal
: a contract that does not require consideration in order to be binding but that must be sealed, delivered, and show a clear intention of the parties to create a contract under seal
NOTE: Contracts under seal were in use long prior to the development of the requirement of consideration. They originally usually were impressed with an actual seal, but today the word seal, the abbreviation L.S., or words such as “signed and sealed” or “witness my seal” may take the place of the seal. Without a clear indication of the parties' intention, however, the presence of a seal, such as a corporate seal, is insufficient to create a contract under seal. Contracts under seal have a substantially longer statute of limitations than contracts based on consideration.

des·ti·na·tion contract
: a contract for goods stipulating that the seller assumes the risk of loss from damage to the goods until they arrive at the destination specified in the contract —compare SHIPMENT CONTRACT in this entry

du·al contract
: one of two contracts made by the same parties with regard to the same transaction; specifically : one of two contracts made with regard to the sale of real estate of which one states an inaccurately high price for the purpose of defrauding a lender into providing a larger loan

executory contract
: a contract that sets forth promises that are not yet performed

express contract
: a contract created by the explicit language of the parties —compare IMPLIED CONTRACT in this entry

formal contract
: a contract made binding by the observance of required formalities regardless of the giving of consideration; specifically : a contract that is a contract under seal, a recognizance, a letter of credit, or a negotiable instrument called also special contract specialty

forward contract
: a privately negotiated investment contract in which a buyer commits to purchase something (as a quantity of a commodity, security, or currency) at a predetermined price on a set future date called also forward

futures contract
: a contract purchased or sold on an exchange in which a party agrees to buy or sell a quantity of a commodity on a specified future date at a set price : FUTURE called also future contract

gratuitous contract
in the civil law of Louisiana : a contract in which one party promises to do something without receiving anything in return —compare ONEROUS CONTRACT in this entry

guaranteed investment contract
: an investment contract under which an institutional investor deposits a lump sum of money (as a pension fund) with an insurance company that guarantees the return of principal and a specific amount of interest at the end of the contract term; also : such a contract considered as an investment <purchased a guaranteed investment contract> called also GIC

il·lu·so·ry contract
/i-'lü-s&-rE-, -z&-/
: a contract in which at least one party makes an illusory promise

implied contract
1 : a contract that a court infers to exist from the words and conduct of the parties called also contract implied in fact implied in fact contract —compare EXPRESS CONTRACT in this entry
2 : QUASI CONTRACT in this entry

implied in law contract
: QUASI CONTRACT 1 in this entry

informal contract
: any contract that is not a formal contract called also simple contract

innominate contract
in the civil law of Louisiana : a contract that is given no special designation as to its purpose —compare NOMINATE CONTRACT in this entry

installment contract
: a contract in which performance is tendered in installments (as by separate periodic delivery of goods)

investment contract
: an agreement or transaction in which a party invests money in a common enterprise the profits from which are derived from the efforts of others

labor contract
: a contract between an employer and a labor union reached through and containing the results of collective bargaining : COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT

land installment contract
: a contract for the purchase of real property in which the seller retains the deed to the property or otherwise continues to have an interest in it until the buyer makes payments in installments equal to the full purchase price or as much of the purchase price as agreed upon called also contract for deed land contract

maritime contract
: a contract directly relating to the navigation, business, or commerce of the high seas or other navigable waters and falling within the jurisdiction of the admiralty court

nom·i·nate contract
in the civil law of Louisiana : a contract give a special designation (as sale, insurance, or lease) —compare INNOMINATE CONTRACT in this entry

oner·ous contract
in the civil law of Louisiana : a contract in which each party obligates himself or herself in exchange for the promise of the other —compare GRATUITOUS CONTRACT in this entry

option contract
: a contract in which a time period is specified within which an offer must be accepted

out·put contract
: a contract in which the buyer agrees to buy and the seller agrees to sell all of a kind of goods that the seller produces

principal contract
: a contract from which a secured obligation arises —compare ACCESSORY CONTRACT in this entry

quasi contract
1 : an obligation that is not created by a contract but that is imposed by law to prevent the unjust enrichment of one party from the acts of another party called also contract implied in law implied in law contract
2 in the civil law of Louisiana : a lawful and voluntary act that benefits another for which the law imposes an obligation on the beneficiary or a third party to compensate the actor —compare OFFENSE 2

re·quire·ments contract
: a contract in which the seller agrees to sell and the buyer agrees to buy all of a kind of goods that the buyer requires

ship·ment contract
: a contract in which the seller bears the risk of loss from damage to the goods only until they are brought to the place of shipment —compare DESTINATION CONTRACT in this entry

simple contract
: INFORMAL CONTRACT in this entry

special contract
1 : a contract containing provisions and stipulations not ordinarily found in contracts of its kind
2 : FORMAL CONTRACT in this entry

sub·sti·tut·ed contract
: a contract between parties to a prior contract that takes the place of and discharges the obligations under the prior contract —compare ACCORD 3, NOVATION

syn·al·lag·mat·ic contract
in the civil law of Louisiana : BILATERAL CONTRACT in this entry

unilateral contract
: a contract in which only one party is obligated to perform —compare BILATERAL CONTRACT in this entry

yellow–dog contract
: an illegal employment contract in which a worker disavows membership in and agrees not to join a labor union in order to get a job
2 : an insurance policy
3 : the study of the law regarding contracts —usually used in pl.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Contract

Con*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Contracting.] [L. contractus, p. p. of contrahere to contract; con- + trahere to draw: cf. F. contracter. See Trace, and cf. Contract, n.]

1. To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's sphere of action.

In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our faculties. --Dr. H. More.

2. To draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.

Thou didst contract and purse thy brow. --Shak.

3. To bring on; to incur; to acquire; as, to contract a habit; to contract a debt; to contract a disease.

Each from each contract new strength and light. --Pope.

Such behavior we contract by having much conversed with persons of high station. --Swift.

4. To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain or covenant for.

We have contracted an inviolable amity, peace, and lague with the aforesaid queen. --Hakluyt.

Many persons . . . had contracted marriage within the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by law. --Strype.

5. To betroth; to affiance.

The truth is, she and I, long since contracted, Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us. --Shak.

6. (Gram.) To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.

Syn: To shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen; condense; reduce; confine; incur; assume.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Contract

Con*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Contracting.] [L. contractus, p. p. of contrahere to contract; con- + trahere to draw: cf. F. contracter. See Trace, and cf. Contract, n.]

1. To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's sphere of action.

In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our faculties. --Dr. H. More.

2. To draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.

Thou didst contract and purse thy brow. --Shak.

3. To bring on; to incur; to acquire; as, to contract a habit; to contract a debt; to contract a disease.

Each from each contract new strength and light. --Pope.

Such behavior we contract by having much conversed with persons of high station. --Swift.

4. To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain or covenant for.

We have contracted an inviolable amity, peace, and lague with the aforesaid queen. --Hakluyt.

Many persons . . . had contracted marriage within the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by law. --Strype.

5. To betroth; to affiance.

The truth is, she and I, long since contracted, Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us. --Shak.

6. (Gram.) To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.

Syn: To shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen; condense; reduce; confine; incur; assume.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Contract

Con*tract"\, v. i. 1. To be drawn together so as to be diminished in size or extent; to shrink; to be reduced in compass or in duration; as, iron contracts in cooling; a rope contracts when wet.

Years contracting to a moment. --Wordsworth.

2. To make an agreement; to covenant; to agree; to bargain; as, to contract for carrying the mail.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Contract

Con"tract\, a. Contracted; as, a contract verb. --Goodwin.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Contract

Con*tract"\, a. [L. contractus, p. p.] Contracted; affianced; betrothed. [Obs.] --Shak.

View results from: Dictionary | Thesaurus | Encyclopedia | All Reference | the Web