I. ˈtrēt, usu -ēd.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English treten, from Old French traitier to treat, manage, from Latin tractare to pull violently, handle, manage, from tractus, past participle of trahere to draw, pull, drag — more at draw
intransitive verb
1. : to carry on negotiations with another with the object of a settlement : discuss terms of accommodation or settlement : negotiate
the commander-in-chief … was to treat for an armistice — Bernard Pares
willing to treat with you but … afraid that your terms may be too high — W.M.Thackeray
2. : to deal with a matter or subject especially in writing or speaking : give an exposition : discourse — usually used with of but sometimes with with
the fifth essay treats of the problems of map engraving — Jean Mitchell
treats in detail of the origin of the council — R.A.Hall b.1911
his article … treats with an important conservation subject — Nature Magazine
3. : to pay another's expenses (as for a meal or drink) usually at a public place : bear the expense of another's entertainment : give or bear the expenses of a treat especially as a compliment, an expression of regard or friendship, or as a bribe
transitive verb
1.
a. : to deal with (as a subject or theme) in speech or writing : argue , discuss , expound
lectured enthusiastically about each of the poets … whom he treated — D.M.Allen
literary history … has constantly to treat problems of intellectual history — René Wellek & Austin Warren
monthly programs treat different aspects of astronomy — American Guide. Series: New York City
b. : to give artistic or literary treatment to : deal with in an artistic way : present or represent artistically especially in a specified manner or style
a romantically treated bronze group — American Guide Series: Minnesota
the hall, treated in the Corinthian order — American Guide Series: Vermont
c. : to handle, manage, or otherwise deal with
food is plentiful and treated with imagination — Cecil Beaton
2. obsolete : to negotiate with a view to settling or arranging : discuss the terms of : arrange
3.
a. : to deal with or bear oneself toward in some specified way : behave or act towards : assume an attitude or form of behavior to : use
the worker's stay on the job depends on whether he is treated right or wrong — Carl Sandburg
note with what scant respect the generals … were treated — C.H.Dewhurst
the tones of nature require … to be treated relatively by the painter — C.W.H.Johnson
b. : to regard (as something or in a particular way) and act toward or deal with accordingly — usually used with as
asking me to treat the news … as strictly confidential — O.S.Nock
adopted into the tribe and treated as an Indian squaw — American Guide Series: Maryland
regional laws … treated defamation as a private delict — T.F.T.Pluncknett
4.
a. : to show hospitality to : entertain , feast
a host who treats all the great persons in princely lodgings — John Evelyn
b.
(1) : to provide (as another person) gratuitously with food, drink, entertainment, or some other source of enjoyment or gratification especially as a compliment, gesture of kindness, or bribe — usually used with to
he treated her to a strawberry soda
(2) : to provide (oneself) with a similar source of enjoyment or gratification — usually used with to
treated herself to a new mink coat
c. : to provide with something that is or is held (as in irony or for amusement) to be a source of pleasure or gratification
the Americans were treated to a remarkable display as the Tripolitan ship blew up — C.S.Forester
when he punished he treated the culprit to ten minutes of biting irony first — Storm Jameson
5.
a. : to care for (as a patient or part of the body) medically or surgically : deal with by medical or surgical means : give a medical treatment to
during his hospital stay, he was treated with … transfusions of blood — Journal American Medical Association
120 persons were treated for miscellaneous … injuries — Pasadena (Calif.) Independent
b. : to seek cure or relief of (as a disease)
treat a bruise with hot applications
6.
a. : to subject to some action (as of a chemical reagent) : act upon with some agent
treat a substance with sulfuric acid
metals … treated to make maintenance a simple thing — Betty Pepis
b. : to subject (as a natural or manufactured article) to some process to improve the appearance, taste, usefulness, or some other quality : process
treat rugs by washing
port is a wine that is treated
Synonyms:
deal ( with ), handle: treat in the sense of doing about, serving, or coping with is usually accompanied by context indicating an attitude, temperament, point of view determining behavior or a manner of approach or execution
treat all controversial questions impartially
treat a subject realistically
treat with care
treating her guests cavalierly by treating with scorn nearly all the ancient virtues — A.W.Hummel
before Massasoit died he made his sons promise to treat the Brown family kindly — J.R.Clift
deal ( with ) may suggest managing, controlling, authoritative disposing
she dealt with moral problems as a cleaver deals with meat — James Joyce
the dean dealt with the matter promptly
the only previous meeting … had dealt essentially with the immediate problems of military cooperation — F.W.D.Deakin
and sometimes it suggests a relationship between persons or parties on a more or less even basis
we're dealing with a ruthless foe that knows exactly what he wants — L.B.Salomon
handle is often interchangeable with treat and deal ( with ); it may suggest a placing, directing, disposing, or manipulating with or as if with the hand
handle an ax skillfully
handle the distribution of tickets
handling the arrangement of flowers
the federal government picked up a group of unfilled functions that the states could not handle — A.A.Berle
II. noun
( -s )
1. obsolete : entreaty 2
2.
a. archaic : an entertainment of food and drink freely provided : feast
when the tired glutton labors through a treat — Alexander Pope
b. : an entertainment (as a picnic) given without expense to those invited : a pleasure party gratuitously arranged
treats for young people are being organized — Frank Frost
3. obsolete
a. : the way in which one is treated : treatment
b. : the treatment accorded to guests or visitors : reception , welcome
4. : something that affords gratification or pleasure : a great satisfaction : a cause of joy, delight, or sometimes amusement : something highly enjoyable often by being unexpected
there may be pineapple chunks … as a treat for tea — A.D.Rees
the London theatrical season is providing some distinguished treats for Coronation visitors — Mollie Panter-Downes
enjoy the treat of hearing him talk — Christian Science Monitor
III. ˈtrēt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English trait, tret, from Anglo-French trait
dialect England : bran of medium coarseness — compare chisel