Obs. [ad. L. tractātiōn-em, n. of action f. tractāre: see TRACT v.1 and -ATION.]
1. The handling or treating of a subject in discourse or writing; literary treatment, discussion.
1570. Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), 22/2. The tractation wherof … I do refre … to them, that haue more leysure.
1628. Bp. Hall, Old Relig., Ep. Ded. 6. A methode, and manner of Tractation, which might be of vse to plain vnderstandings.
1654. Z. Coke, Logick, 192. Tractation (or Handling) is the meditation of a Theme or matter to be done by Instruments of Art.
b. An instance of this; a passage or work treating of something; a discussion or treatise.
1555. in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 974/2. He did ther intreate of the sacrament in that tractation De cœna domini.
1577. Harrison, England, II. v. (1877), I. 116. I might … make a long tractation of the round table.
1669. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, I. I. xi. 60. What I have … in this whole tractation laid down.
2. Conduct towards or dealing with a person or thing; treatment.
1548. Act 2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 23 § 2. Sentence for matrymonye, commanding solempnizacion, cohabitacion, consumacion and tractacion as becometh Man and Wyer to have.
1670. Maynwaring, Vita Sana, i. 22. Irregular and unfit tractation of Infants.
3. Handling, manipulation (in lit. sense). rare.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 30. The prompt tractation, and handlyng, that now appertaineth to the hand.
1630. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 217. They nourish it much by Art and often tractation.
4. Negotiation, dealing, treaty. rare–1.
1600. O. E., Repl. Libel, II. v. 98. Any compact, packe, conspiracy, or tractation to any such purpose.
[1881. Sat. Rev., 17 Dec., 743/1. M. Gambetta thought that there might be even with Italy some sort of tractation. One of his hearers called out that this was quite a new word, and M. Gambetta … replied that he had coined a word, because no existing word expressed the peculiarly delicate arrangement, or approach to an arrangement, which he had in his head.]
5. Use (of a word) in a particular sense. (= L. tractatio, Cicero, Part. Or., V. 17.) rare–1.
1660. Author Healing in Church, 26. I have thus done with the General and Theological Tractation of the words.
