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Webster 1913 Edition

Treatise

Trea′tise

,
Noun.
[OE.
tretis
, OF.
treitis
,
traitis
, well made. See
Treat
.]
1.
A written composition on a particular subject, in which its principles are discussed or explained; a tract.
Chaucer.
He published a
treatise
in which he maintained that a marriage between a member of the Church of England and a dissenter was a nullity.
Macaulay.
☞ A treatise implies more form and method than an essay, but may fall short of the fullness and completeness of a systematic exposition.
2.
Story; discourse.
[R.]
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Treatise

TRE'ATISE

,
Noun.
[L. tractatus.] A tract; a written composition on a particular subject, in which the principles of it are discussed or explained. A treatise is of an indefinite length; but it implies more form and method than an essay, and less fullness or copiousness than a system.

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