treaty

plural treaties

1. countableinternational lawA formal binding agreement concluded by subjects of international law, namely, states and international organizations; a convention, a pact.

   to sign a peace treaty

   4 more examples

   to write up a treaty touching climate change

   [T]he Duke of Britaine hauing beene an Hoſte, and a kind of Parent or Foſter-father to the King, in his tenderneſſe of age, and vveakneſſe of fortune, did looke for at this time from King Henry (the renovvned King of England) rather braue Troupes for his Succours, then a vaine Treatie of Peace.

   1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, →OCLC, page 47

   Soon after his [James VI and I's] coming to the Crown of England he entered into ſecret treaties with Spain, in order to the forcing the States to a peace: […]

   a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, “Book I. A Summary Recapitulation of the State of Affairs in Scotland, both in Church and State; […]”, in [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], editor, Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume I, London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC, page 15

   Exportation was encouraged ſometimes by dravvbacks, ſometimes by bounties, ſometimes by advantageous treaties of commerce with foreign ſtates, and ſometimes by eſtabliſhment of colonies in diſtant countries.

   1776 March 9, Adam Smith, “Of the Principle of the Commercial, or Mercantile System”, in An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. […], volume II, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, book IV (Of Systems of Political Oeconomy), page 29

2. archaicuncountableChiefly in in treaty: discussions or negotiations in order to reach an agreement.

   To a meeting of the executors of late Viscˢˢᵉ Mordaunt's estate, to consider of the sale of Parsons Greene; being in treaty with Mr. Loftus, and to settle the halfe yeare's account.

   1680 May 9 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 30 April 1680]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, page 519

3. archaiccountableChiefly in private treaty: an agreement or settlement reached following negotiations; a compact, a contract, a covenant.
4. obsoleteuncountableThe manner or process of treating someone or something; treatment; also, the manner in which someone or something acts or behaves; behaviour.

   Hoſ[t]. They call me Good-ſtock. / Lov[el]. Sir, and you confeſſe it, / Both i'your language, treaty, and your bearing.

   1629 (first performance), B[en] Jonson, The New Inne. Or, The Light Heart. […], London: […] Thomas Harper, for Thomas Alchorne, […], published 1631, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii

5. obsoleteuncountableThe addressing or consideration of a subject; discussion, treatment.
6. countableobsoleteA formal, systematic discourse on some subject; a treatise.

   The Miniſters in Holland did upon this occaſion ſhew a very particular violence. In their ſermons, and in ſome printed treaties, they charged the Judges with corruption, who had carried the ſentence no farther than to baniſhment: And compared the fate of the De Wits to Haman’s.

   a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, “Book II. Of the First Twelve Years of the Reign of King Charles II. from the Year 1660 to the Year 1673.”, in [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], editor, Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume I, London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC, page 326

   1 more example

   And though Galen doth ſometime nibble at Moſes, and beſide the Apoſtate Chriſtian, ſome Heathens have queſtioned his Philoſophicall part or treaty of the Creation: Yet is there ſurely no reaſonable Pagan, that will not admire the rationall and well grounded precepts of Chriſt; […]

   1650, Thomas Browne, “Of the Second Cause of Popular Errors; the Erroneous Disposition of the People”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 1st book, page 7

7. countableobsoleteAn act of beseeching or entreating; an entreaty, a plea, a request.

   Now I must / To the young man ſend humble Treaties, dodge / And palter in the ſhifts of lovvnes, vvho / VVith halfe the bulke o' th' vvorld plaid as I pleas'd, / Making, and marring Fortunes.

   c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene xi], page 356, column 1

present singular third person treaties · participle present treatying · participle past treatied · past treatied

1. transitiveTo get into (a specific situation) through a treaty.
2. intransitiveTo enter into a treaty.