treat English · revision 3400

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la trahō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /triːt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|treten]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|traitier|t=to deal with, act toward]], Anglo-French treter,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|tractāre|t=to handle, manage, deal with]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) literally “to drag about”, the frequentative of [[m|la|trahere|t=to pull, draw]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The noun is from the verb.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[tract]], [[treaty]], [[treatise]] and [[entreat]].^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To negotiate, bargain, discuss terms: about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dealing with a subject in speech or writing is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) and handling a physical thing from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) The medical sense, “to apply remedies, try to cure”, is by the early 15th century, in a translation of Chauliac, and Middle English also had ''treat'' as a noun meaning “a medicinal salve”.^(Etymonline) The noun first meant a discussion of terms, a negotiation (1375).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Treating guests with food and drink is from 1651 in the OED^(OED 1989) and the 1650s in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) which led, through the treatment of guests and the entertainment given them, to “anything that gives great pleasure”, by 1770.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline) The verb “to entertain with food or drink at one's own expense” is by 1710.^(Etymonline) Charles Lamb's essay ''Old China'' reflects on what makes a treat.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – to negotiate.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – to discuss a subject.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1375 – noun, a negotiation.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 15th century – to give medical care.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1651 – an entertainment of food and drink.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1710 – verb, to pay for another's food or drink.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1770 – anything that gives pleasure.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To behave towards in a particular way: ''to treat someone kindly''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To regard or handle in a certain way: ''to treat it as a joke''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To give medical care to; to try to cure.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To subject to a chemical or other process.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To deal with a subject in writing or speech.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To pay for another's food, drink or entertainment.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(formal)'' To [[negotiate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that gives special pleasure.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An entertainment or gift paid for by someone else; one's turn to pay.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[treater]]

+ * [[maltreat]]

+ * [[mistreat]]

+ * [[overtreat]]

+ * [[undertreat]]

+ * [[ill-treat]]

+ * [[re-treat]]

+ * [[treatable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[treatise]]

+ * [[treaty]]

+ * [[treatment]]

+ * [[entreat]]

+ * [[tract]]

+ * [[trait]]

+ * [[retreat]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}