I. ˈtrakt noun
( -s )
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: Middle English tracte, from Medieval Latin tractus, from Latin, action of drawing, extension, length; from its being sung without a break by one voice
: the verses of Scripture sung or recited in the Roman liturgy of the mass after the gradual or instead of the alleluia on penitential days from Septuagesima to Holy Saturday, on ember days, and at most vigils and requiems
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English tracte, modification of Latin tractatus action of handling, discussion, treatise — more at tractate
1. archaic : a literary work dealing with a particular topic : treatise
2. : a pamphlet, leaflet, or folder issued (as by a political or religious group) for propaganda ; especially : one containing a religious exhortation, a doctrinal discussion, or a proselytizing appeal
III. ˈtrakt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin tractus action of drawing, trailing, extension, track, tract of land, space of time, from tractus, past participle of trahere to draw, pull, drag — more at draw
1.
a. archaic : extent or lapse of time : continued or protracted duration : course
b. : a period in time : stretch
hoping for a tract of fair weather
c. archaic : a continuous course (as of action or events) : continuity
2. : an area either large or small: as
a.
(1) : a region or stretch (as of land) that is usually indefinitely described or without precise boundaries
a few large tracts for settlement
the wooded tract between the two rivers
a great tract of unexplored sea
(2) : a precisely defined or definable area of land
an 80 acre tract
an urban census tract
b.
(1) : a system of body parts or organs acting in concert to perform some function or serve some special purpose
the digestive tract
upper respiratory tract
(2) : a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function ; especially : such a bundle within the spinal cord or brain — called also fiber tract ; compare fasciculus
(3) : pteryla
c. : a particular and usually identifiable part of something
large tracts of the job about which I know nothing — Robertson Davies
psychological tracts that … lurk shapelessly outside the action of a novel — C.H.Rickword
3. chiefly dialect : track: as
a. : a footprint or other mark indicative of passage
b. : path , course , way
c. : vestige , trace