contract English · revision 3138

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1333|origins=la contrahere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun: UK /ˈkɒn.trækt/, US /ˈkɑːn.trækt/; verb: /kənˈtrækt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[inh|enm|contract]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|contract]] (modern contrat),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a learned borrowing from [[la|contractus|t=a drawing together; a contract, agreement]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from the past participle of [[m|la|contrahere|t=to draw together, collect; to make a bargain]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from con- “together” and trahere “to draw”, the source of [[tract]] and [[train]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) The verb comes partly from an earlier participle and adjective contract, “contracted, incurred” (1390, in Chaucer), from Latin contractus,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) and partly from Middle French contracter.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, “an agreement between persons”, originally especially of marriage: before 1333,^(Barnhart 1988) the early 14th century;^(Etymonline) the OED's first example is from about 1386.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb meant “to make an agreement” from probably before 1425,^(Barnhart 1988) the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) The physical sense, “to draw together, shrink”, is first recorded before 1398, usually of the shrunken look of paralyzed limbs,^(Barnhart 1988) and Etymonline dates the intransitive “to become smaller” to the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) “To acquire, become infected with” is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) as in ''contract a disease'' or ''contract debts''.^(Hoad 1986) The grammatical sense, “to shorten a word”, is from about 1600.^(Etymonline) A business agreement to supply goods or do work is from 1602,^(OED 1989) and the document containing an agreement from the 1610s.^(Etymonline) In bridge, a contract is from 1908,^(OED 1989) and in American underworld slang an arrangement to kill someone from 1940.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The adjective, “hired under contract”, as in ''contract killer'', is from 1936.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1333 – noun, an agreement.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1390 – participle, contracted, incurred.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1398 – verb, to draw together.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1425 – verb, to make an agreement.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1590s – to catch (a disease).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1602 – a business contract.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1610s – the written document.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1908 – a contract in bridge.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1940 – an arrangement to kill.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A formal [[agreement]] between two or more parties, especially one enforceable by [[law]]; the document recording it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The branch of law dealing with such agreements.^(AHD)

+ # ''(bridge)'' The final bid, the number of tricks a side undertakes to win.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(slang)'' An arrangement to have someone killed.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make smaller or shorter; to [[shrink]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To enter into a formal agreement; to arrange by contract.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To catch (a disease) or incur (a debt).^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(grammar)'' To shorten (a word) by leaving out sounds or letters.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[contractibility]]

+ * [[contractible]]

+ * [[contractee]]

+ * [[contractibly]]

+ * [[contractual]]

+ * [[noncontract]]

+ * [[precontract]]

+ * [[subcontract]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[contraction]]

+ * [[contractor]]

+ * [[tract]]

+ * [[traction]]

+ * [[attract]]

+ * [[subtract]]

+ * [[train]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The noun is stressed on the first syllable and the verb usually on the second.^(Roach et al. 2011)^(MW Collegiate) Johnson noted that the noun was anciently accented on the second syllable.^(Johnson 1755) In Scotland a ''contract'' was a couple's application for the proclamation of their banns, and a formal betrothal before witnesses.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}