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Webster 1913 Edition

Tract

Tract

,
Noun.
[Abbrev.fr.
tractate
.]
A written discourse or dissertation, generally of short extent; a short treatise, especially on practical religion.
The church clergy at that time writ the best collection of
tracts
against popery that ever appeared.
Swift.
Tracts for the Times
.
See
Tractarian
.

Tract

,
Noun.
[L.
tractus
a drawing, train, track, course, tract of land, from
trahere tractum
, to draw. Senses 4 and 5 are perhaps due to confusion with
track
. See
Trace
,
Verb.
, and cf.
Tratt
.]
1.
Something drawn out or extended; expanse.
“The deep tract of hell.”
Milton.
2.
A region or quantity of land or water, of indefinite extent; an area;
as, an unexplored
tract
of sea
.
A very high mountain joined to the mainland by a narrow
tract
of earth.
Addison.
3.
Traits; features; lineaments.
[Obs.]
The discovery of a man’s self by the
tracts
of his countenance is a great weakness.
Bacon.
4.
The footprint of a wild beast.
[Obs.]
Dryden.
5.
Track; trace.
[Obs.]
Efface all
tract
of its traduction.
Sir T. Browne.
But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forthon,
Leaving no
tract
behind.
Shakespeare
6.
Treatment; exposition.
[Obs.]
Shak.
7.
Continuity or extension of anything;
as, the
tract
of speech
.
[Obs.]
Older.
8.
Continued or protracted duration; length; extent.
“Improved by tract of time.”
Milton.
9.
(R. C. Ch.)
Verses of Scripture sung at Mass, instead of the Alleluia, from Septuagesima Sunday till the Saturday befor Easter; – so called because sung tractim, or without a break, by one voice, instead of by many as in the antiphons.
Syn. – Region; district; quarter; essay; treatise; dissertation.

Tract

,
Verb.
T.
To trace out; to track; also, to draw out; to protact.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
B. Jonson.

Webster 1828 Edition

Tract

TRACT

,
Noun.
[L. tractus; traho.]
1.
Something drawn out or extended.
2.
A region, or quantity of land or water, of indefinite extent. We may apply tract to the sandy and barren desert of Syria and Arabia, or to the narrow vales of Italy and Sardinia. We say, a rich tract of land in Connecticut or Ohio, a stony tract, or a mountainous tract. We apply tract to a single farm, or to a township or state.
3.
A treatise; a written discourse or dissertation of indefinite length, but generally not of great extent.
4.
In hunting, the trace or footing of a wild beast.
5.
Treatment; exposition. [Not in use.]
6.
Track. [Not in use.]
7.
Continuity or extension of any thing; as a tract of speech. [Not much used.]
8.
Continued or protracted duration; length; extend; as a long tract of time.

TRACT

,
Verb.
T.
To trace out; to draw out. [Not in use.]

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