treat

—treater, n.

/treet/, v.t.

1. to act or behave toward (a person) in some specified way: to treat someone with respect.

2. to consider or regard in a specified way, and deal with accordingly: to treat a matter as unimportant.

3. to deal with (a disease, patient, etc.) in order to relieve or cure.

4. to deal with in speech or writing; discuss.

5. to deal with, develop, or represent artistically, esp. in some specified manner or style: to treat a theme realistically.

6. to subject to some agent or action in order to bring about a particular result: to treat a substance with an acid.

7. to entertain; give hospitality to: He treats diplomats in the lavish surroundings of his country estate.

8. to provide food, entertainment, gifts, etc., at one's own expense: Let me treat you to dinner.

v.i.

9. to deal with a subject in speech or writing; discourse: a work that treats of the caste system in India.

10. to give, or bear the expense of, a treat: Is it my turn to treat?

11. to carry on negotiations with a view to a settlement; discuss terms of settlement; negotiate.

n.

12. entertainment, food, drink, etc., given by way of compliment or as an expression of friendly regard.

13. anything that affords particular pleasure or enjoyment.

14. the act of treating.

15. one's turn to treat.

[1250-1300; ME treten (v.) < OF tretier, traitier < L tractare to drag, handle, treat, freq. of trahere to drag. See TRACT¹]

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